Letter in Support of California SB 978

The National Association for Public Defense (NAPD) stands in strong support of your Senate Bill 978, a law that would require state and local law enforcement to release their manuals and policies, which are not exempt from disclosure, online. This […]

Letter to Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors

Letter relating to the selection of an interim defender. “NAPD encourages LA County to step back and begin a process that will ensure the highest qualified person is selected to become the next LA County Public Defender. The process by […]

Letter to U.S. Attorney General on Revised Fines & Fees Policies

“The recent revocation of this guidance memo by Attorney General Sessions doesn’t change the law but it sends a troubling message that the current Justice Department no longer intends to enforce existing law designed to protect one of this country’s […]

Letter on the Organization of Scientific Areas Committees

With this guiding principle, we believe that the Organization of Scientific Areas Committees (OSAC) must continue to take a hard look at problematic methodologies and establish uniform standards for all forensic science disciplines.

Letter to Atlanta Mayor

Letter relating to the removal of a chief public defender.

Position Paper on Qualifications of those Selecting Public Defense Leadership

“The responsibility of selecting quality leadership in a jurisdiction that does not elect its public defender should fall on a board or commission in order to guarantee the independence of the public defense function. NAPD believes that those responsible for […]

Letter in Support of California SB 345

The National Association for Public Defense (NAPD) stands in strong support for Senate Bill 345, a law that would require state and local law enforcement to release their manuals and policies, which are not exempt from disclosure, online. This measure […]

Public Comment on the National Commission on Forensic Science

NAPD encourages the Department of Justice to continue the National Commission on Forensic Science, to complete the discipline review and uniform language projects, and to support the National Institute of Standards and Technology’s role assessing the technical merit and the […]

Foundational Principles

We firmly believe that that the following foundational principles are essential to help guide all of us in the public defense community as we move forward together not only to address systemic failures of our criminal and juvenile justice systems […]

Letter to Aurora, CO, City Council

“By giving the City Manager the power to hire and fire the Chief Public Defender and his/her assistants, we believe the city would be acting is in direct conflict with the advice of the United States Supreme Court, and nationally […]