July 31, 2017

    ABA releases annual review of the criminal justice system, offers legal experts to discuss issues

    WASHINGTON, July 31, 2017 — The American Bar Association Section of Criminal Justice released “The State of Criminal Justice 2017,” which examines major issues, trends and significant changes in the U.S. criminal justice system. 

    Published annually, “The State of Criminal Justice,” serves as a resource for policymakers, academics and students of the criminal justice system. The book provides a snapshot of major developments in the criminal justice system during 2016 and a preview of developments in 2017, and is a valuable indication of future directions for criminal justice in the United States.

    This year’s volume is a collection of 22 chapters written by some of the country’s most recognized criminal justice experts and lawyers, who are available to media outlets seeking sources. Some of the chapters include:

    • “White Collar Crime,” by Raymond Banoun, with a brief overview of recent developments in white-collar crime, including developments with the U.S. Department of Justice and the Securities and Exchange Commission.

    • “The State of Cybercrime,” by Andrew Levchuk, on the State of Cybercrime, including developments under the Computer Fraud and Abuse Act and the Stored Communications Act.

    • “Truth and Consequences: Helping Company Executives Understand (and Ward Against) the Ever-Present Threat of False Statements and False Certifications,” by Andrew S. Boutros and T. Markus Funk, with a practical guide for lawyers advising corporations and executives on how to avoid making false statements and false certifications to government officials.

    • “The State of Pretrial Justice,” by Justin Bingham and Cherise Fanno Burdeen, on pretrial detention and bail.

    • “Plea Bargaining,” by Andrea Nieves and Alexander Perlin, on the right to effective assistance of counsel at the plea-bargaining stage.

    • “Ethics in Criminal Advocacy,” by Lara Bazelon, which includes a discussion of the controversy over now former FBI Director James Comey’s unprecedented press conference 11 days before the November 2016 presidential election about the investigation of Hillary Clinton’s use of a private email server.

    • “The Price for Justice: The Economic Barriers that Contribute to an Unfair and Unjust Criminal Justice System,” by Christine Kulumani and Salma S. Safiedine, on lowering or removing the economic barriers that contribute to an unfair and unjust criminal justice system.

    • “Ohio v. Clark: Protecting Children from Child Sexual Abuse,” by A. Ann Ratnayake, on protecting children from child sexual abuse.

    • “Sexual Assault Proceedings on College Campuses: Current Issues,” by Lauren Donaldson, Navneet Jaswal, Carla Laroche, and A. Ann Ratnayake, on conducting sexual assault proceedings on college campuses.

    • “Military Criminal Justice: Further Expanded Victim Rights and Overarching Refinements,” by Alexandra González-Waddington, Major M. Arthur Vaughn II, and Michael S. Waddington, on recent developments in military criminal justice.

    • “The State of State Sentencing Guidelines,” by Kelly Lyn Mitchell, on continuing efforts of various states to reform state sentencing guidelines.

    • “Sentencing Reform Legislation Hits a Wall,” by Sean Hecker and David Sandler, on the uncertain future of efforts to reform federal sentencing.

    • “With No Signs of Federal Legislation to Expunge Federal Convictions, State Courts May Provide a Mechanism to Minimize Collateral Consequences,” by Michael C. Hennenberg, William Summers, and Justin Withrow, on state courts mechanisms to minimize legal restrictions imposed upon individuals convicted of crimes that go beyond any sentence imposed by a court.

    • “Uncertainty Ahead: Pell Grant Funding for Prisoners,” by SpearIt on the future of grants that would allow prisoners to pursue educational opportunities that may enhance employment opportunities upon release and reduce rates of recidivism.

    • “Capital Punishment,” by Ronald J. Tabak, with a comprehensive overview of the ever-changing field of developments in capital punishment.

    This edition is available for purchase at: https://shop.americanbar.org/eBus/Store/ProductDetails.aspx?productId=280860576

    The ABA can refer reporters to legal experts available to speak about the trends and latest legislative developments in the U.S. criminal justice system. Reporters seeking comment and analysis on this subject or a complimentary copy of “The State of Criminal Justice 2017” may contact Maria Frausto at 202-662-1091 or at  Maria.Frausto@americanbar.org for more information.

    The ABA Criminal Justice Section is the unified voice of criminal justice judges, private criminal defense attorneys, prosecutors, public defenders, academics and other professionals. The section, with more than 15,000 members, brings together all the various actors to improve the criminal justice system, address today’s most pressing issues and to serve its members, the profession and the public.

    With more than 400,000 members, the American Bar Association is one of the largest voluntary professional membership organizations in the world. As the national voice of the legal profession, the ABA works to improve the administration of justice, promotes programs that assist lawyers and judges in their work, accredits law schools, provides continuing legal education, and works to build public understanding around the world of the importance of the rule of law. To review our privacy statement, click here. Follow the latest ABA news at www.ambar.org/news and on Twitter @ABANews.