Right to Counsel National Consortium Second Annual Meeting Video Clips

On October 25, 2016, The Right to Counsel (R2C) National Consortium, coordinated by the Justice Programs Office, a center at American University's School of Public Affairs, held its second annual meeting in the Great Hall of the U.S. Department of Justice. The meeting brought together a group of criminal justice stakeholders, policymakers and advocates to show their continued commitment to protecting citizens' Sixth Amendment right to effective counsel.

Check out the video of highlights here.
Other clips from the day include Representative Christy Perry, Judge Bernice Donald, Michael Barrett, and Former US Deputy Attorney General Sally Yates.

On the Docket with the National Drug Court Resource Center Podcast Releases First Episode

The National Drug Court Resource Center has released its first episode in a series, called On the Docket with the National Drug Court Resource Center. The series explores problem-solving courts that address substance use, mental health, and co-occurring disorders within the criminal justice system. These voluntary programs serve as a form of deferred adjudication that focuses on rehabilitation and treatment, rather than incarceration. The host and producer of this podcast is Anna Koozmin, Program Associate at the Justice Programs Office at American University. To listen and download episodes of this podcast, follow this link to the Apple Podcast Store or click here to visit the NDCRC website.

60 Minutes' "Defenseless": How the System Has Become Public Defenders' Worst Nightmare

A conversation with Justice Programs Office's Senior Policy Counsel, Zoë Root, regarding the lack of resources allocated for public defenders to adequately represent their clients. Read here >>

National Public Opinion Survey Conducted for The Right to Counsel National Campaign

A new report, Americans' Views on Public Defenders and The Right to Counsel, outlines the results of a year-long opinion study focused on how well Americans understand public defense and their right to counsel.

The R2C researchers and their colleagues from Belden Russonello Strategists, a consulting group that conducts survey and focus group research, interviewed 1,500 respondents across the United States via focus groups and opinion polls from April through October 2016. Questions gauged the public's initial understanding of the right to counsel and public defense, and researchers also tested and determined the most effective educational tools that can be used to expand awareness and correct misconceptions.

Download the full report here.

The Justice Programs Office, a center in the School of Public Affairs, at American University is pleased to present the Veterans Treatment Courts: 2015 Survey Results. This survey was conducted under the Bureau of Justice Assistance's Adult Drug Court Technical Assistance Project. To learn more about the survey results, and for information on and additional resources for Veterans Treatment Courts, please visit the Veterans Treatment Courts: 2015 Survey Results webpage.