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NACDL’s State Criminal Justice Network (SCJN) Conference

Every year, NACDL brings together advocates from around the country for our annual State Criminal Justice Network Conference. This conference offers participants an opportunity to hear from experts on state criminal justice reform and the opportunity to network with like-minded advocates.

Champion of State Criminal Justice Reform Award  Past Conferences

The State Criminal Justice Network Conference provides an opportunity for practitioners and the advocacy community to network and discuss various criminal justice objectives around the country. Since the inception of the SCJN, the expanded participation of both communities has enabled NACDL to bring together individuals directly affected by the criminal justice system and stakeholders who seek reforms that will have a lasting impact on our communities.

The 21st Annual State Criminal Justice Network Conference will be held as a free, in-person conference, August 11-12, 2022, in Palm Beach, FL at The Breakers Palm Beach. 

Past Conferences

NACDL's 20th Annual State Criminal Justice Network Conference, Virtual

State Criminal Justice Network Conference: Sharing Strategies and Strengthening the movement. August 18-20, 2021.

The 20th Annual State Criminal Justice Network Conference was held as a free, live virtual event on August 18-20, 2021.

Watch the Recordings  CONFERENCE MATERIALS  SPEAKER BIOS   

NACDL's 19th Annual State Criminal Justice Network Conference, Virtual

19th annual state criminal justice network conference.

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The 2020 SCJN Conference was held as free, live virtual conference from August 17th through 19th. The conference featured panel discussions on a range of topics, including:

  • Combatting misinformation around bail reform; 

  • Policing in America, examining issues of transparency and accountability, as well as predictive policing and other analytical techniques used by law enforcement; 

  • State sentencing reform efforts, including life imprisonment and other extreme sentences;

  • Probation and parole reform;

  • Data driven policies; 

  • Marsy’s Law;

  • Effective messaging around criminal justice reform from communications and media experts.

Watch the Recordings   Conference Materials    Speaker Bios

NACDL's 18th Annual State Criminal Justice Network Conference, Philadelphia, PA

18th Annual State Criminal Justice Network Conference.

NACDL's 18th Annual State Criminal Justice Network Conference: Sharing Strategies and Strengthening the Movement took place August 1-2, 2019 in Philadelphia, PA. Participants heard from many who are driving various reform efforts at the state level. Issues discussed included pretrial reform, the trial penalty, policing and technology, juvenile justice, discovery reform, expungement and women in the criminal justice system.

NACDL’s 17th Annual State Criminal Justice Network Conference and Presidential Summit, Atlanta, Georgia 

Shattering the Shackles of Collateral Consequences.

Shattering the Shackles of Collateral Consequences: Exploring Moral Principles and Economic Innovations to Restore Rights and Opportunity took place Thursday, August 23 – Friday, August 24, 2018 at the Atlanta Marriott Marquis and Saturday, August 25, 2018 at Ebenezer Baptist Church.

What is Shattering the Shackles?  

Shattering the Shackles of Collateral Consequences: Exploring Moral Principles and Economic Innovations to Restore Rights and Opportunity examined the destructive effect that a vast network of penalties, debarments, and disabilities that arise from a criminal conviction has on the millions who have contact with the criminal justice system. It also explored the disparate impact that these consequences have on communities of color. At the same time, the Summit highlighted the ground-breaking work that is helping people break free from these shackles, and provide a roadmap for national reform.

Watch the video below to see NACDL President Drew Findling and Honorary Chair Mike Epps discussing Shattering the Shackles of Collateral Consequences.