Michigan State Appellate Defender Office and Criminal Defense Resource Center

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Michigan Safety & Justice Roundtable Releases Final Reports

The Hudson-Webber Foundation convened the Michigan Safety & Justice Roundtable in September 2018 in partnership with the Michigan Committee on Juvenile Justice, the Mackinac Center for Public Policy, the Michigan League for Public Policy, and the Michigan Council on Crime and Delinquency. The two-day Roundtable was convened to support and advance safe and equitable youth and adult justice systems in Michigan and to craft “common-sense” justice policy recommendations to move Michigan forward. The Hudson-Webber Foundation has now released two companion reports arising from the Roundtable that are extremely relevant to those working in the criminal justice system. Read More

Reentry Roundtable at SADO Detroit

Sunday February 24, 2-4 pm

Join us for a "Reentry Roundtable" discussion led by formerly incarcerated individuals, Sunday February 24, 2-4 pm at SADO Detroit. Come fellowship with the community. All are welcome and snacks and refreshments will be provided. Read More

Project Reentry Publishes Newsletter for Returning Citizens

The Drum: Articles, Stories, and Resources for the JLWOP Community

The February 2019 issue of The Drum is now available. The Drum is a publication, produced by SADO’s Project Reentry, featuring articles by and for former juvenile lifers returning to the community. The Drum also identifies a wide variety of resources for returning citizens, including financial budgeting, employment opportunities, and community tips. This month’s issue features an article highlighting Black Activists in Criminal Justice Reform in honor of Black History Month, a spotlight on Gary Peters (home since November 2018 after serving 41 years), and an article and poem by Demetrius Knuckles (home since October 2018). Read More

Michigan Bar Journal Features Articles by SADO's Sofia Nelson and MAACS's Bradley Hall and Kathryn Swedlow

Michigan Bar Journal January 2019

The Michigan Bar Journal has recently published articles by SADO’s Sofia Nelson and MAACS’s Bradley Hall and Kathryn Swedlow. Sofia’s article, “Justice Delayed: What’s Next for Michigan’s Juvenile Lifers?”, recounts the legal background for the current resentencing of individuals who were sentenced to life without parole for crimes they committed as juveniles and recommends strategies for cases in which the prosecution is re-seeking a sentence of life without parole. Brad and Kathy’s article, “Ensuring Independence and Quality in a Managed Assigned Counsel System,” explores the history of MAACS and offers four lessons learned from that history to guide MAACS in aiding Michigan trial courts as they transition from traditional assignment systems to a system in which an independent entity regulates the assignment list and selects counsel for appointments. Congratulations to Sofia, Brad, and Kathy on the publication of their excellent articles. Read More

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This project was funded by the Byrne JAG grant #2010-DJ-BX-0003, awarded by the Bureau of Justice Assistance, Office of Justice Programs, U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ), and administered by the Michigan state Police (MSP). Points of view or opinions contained within this document do not necessarily represent the official position or policies of the MSP or DOJ.