Public Defense

    The Standing Committee on Legal Aid and Indigent Defense (SCLAID) is working to improve public defense systems nationwide.

    ABA Public Defense Summit

    Moving Online!

    Join us for the 2021 ABA Public Defense Summit on Misdemeanor Public Defense. Day 1 of the webinar- January 21, 2021, Day 2-January 22, 2021. Registration is OPEN NOW!

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    Katrina 15th Anniversary Programs

    From Katrina to COVID

    To mark the 15th Anniversary of Hurricane Katrina, the ABA Standing Committee on Legal Aid and Indigent Defense (SCLAID) together with the Deason Criminal Justice Reform Center at SMU Law School, the ABA Criminal Justice Section and the ABA Section on Civil Rights and Social Justice present webinars on the impact of crisis on two key components of the criminal justice system: Jails and Prisons, and Public Defense. The programs will consider what happens to people trapped in the criminal justice system during times of extreme systemic stress and whether or not such times of crisis can be catalysts for reform. Please join us for these free (non-CLE) programs.

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    New Report! - Released July 24, 2020

    The Indiana Public Defender Commission Report

    An Analysis of the Indiana Public Defense System And Attorney Workload Standards

    The Indiana Public Defender Commission (“Commission”) separately engaged the American Bar Association Standing Committee on Legal Aid and Indigent Defense (“ABA SCLAID”) and Crowe LLP (“Crowe”) to collaboratively conduct the Indiana Project, an analysis of public defense workloads, and produce a final report.

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    COVID-19 Webinars

    COVID-19 Resources

    The ABA Standing Committee on Legal Aid and Indigent Defense (SCLAID) has launched a web page that consolidates resources from across the country to assist the access to justice community in addressing the many challenges resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic.

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    Exemplary Defense: A Study of Three Groundbreaking Projects in Public Defense

    Exemplary Defense: A Study of Three Groundbreaking Projects in Public Defense
    The Rhode Island Project: A Study of the Rhode Island Public Defender System and Attorney Workload Standards

    The Rhode Island Project: A Study of the Rhode Island Public Defender System and Attorney Workload Standards
    The Colorado Project: A Study of the Colorado Public Defender System and Attorney Workload Standards

    The Colorado Project: A Study of the Colorado Public Defender System and Attorney Workload Standards
    Reports and Publications

    View all Reports and Publications

    Public Education Events

    Explore upcoming and past events on topics related to public defense.

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    Public Defense News

    News and news archives available at indigentdefense.org. Email Malia Brink at malia.brink@americanbar.org with news, jobs, events, or subscription requests.

    Here is the public defense news Jan 9-13, 2021

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    2021 Virtual Public Defense Summit – Jan 21-22, 2021! 
    This year’s ABA Public Defense Summit will focus on misdemeanor courts and the role public defenders should play in effectively representing misdemeanor defendants and ensuring that the procedures in these courts protect those who are not entitled to counsel. Registration is now open.  Group discounts available. PLEASE SHARE WIDELY!

    National:

    There are too many prosecutors on the bench.  Take it from me, a prosecutor.

    Biden helped usher in an era of mass incarceration. Can he now end it?

    Links

    Find additional indigent criminal defense resources, including links to related ABA groups and committees, publications and standards, and other organizations devoted to improving indigent criminal defense systems.

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