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Task Forces

Campus Sexual Misconduct

Task Force's Recommendations & Report

Corporate Criminal Liability

Co-Chairs: Andrew Boutros, Joseph Warin

The First Step Act

Chair: Jim Felman

This task force will be examining the requirements of the First Step Act and proposing recommendations for its implementation.

News Release on the Task Force's Report

The Report of the Task Force on the Implementation of the First Step Act  

Forensics Ethics

Chair: Matthew Redle

Fourth Amendment at the Border 

Chair: Josh Dratel

Immigration

Chair: Raul Ayala

International Standards

Co-Chairs: Glenna MacGregor and Steven Kay, QC

The International Standards Task Force leads a global group of practitioners in creating a resource for practitioners of international criminal law (ICL), not currently available, which provides a dynamic repository of best practices, including practical guidance that reflects agreed underlying principles to address the challenges faced by those occupying different roles in ICL proceedings. The Task Force is fundamentally directed at the goal of ensuring proceedings are fair, just, timely, and effective in carrying out and conveying accountability for grave international crimes.

Prosecutorial Independence

Co-Chairs: John Choi, Ellen S. Podgor, Ellen Yaroshefsky

To preserve and strengthen prosecutorial independence and enhance the American public’s understanding of the prosecutor’s critical role in maintaining the integrity of the criminal justice system.

Visit the Task Force website

Public Defense Independence

Co-Chairs: Keisha Hudson, Malia Brink

The goal of the Task Force on Public Defense Independence is to protect and strengthen independence and enhance the public’s understanding of the critical role public defense independence plays in ensuring a fair and just criminal legal system. The Task Force is a project of the American Bar Association Criminal Justice Section and Standing Committee on Legal Aid and Indigent Defense (ABA SCLAID), in partnership with the National Association for Public Defense

Visit the Task Force website

The Role of Plea Bargaining 

Co-Chairs: Lucian Dervan, Russell Covey 

The task force closely examine the role of plea bargaining in our modern system of criminal justice.  Its goal is to develop both broad policy oriented goals for the criminal justice system and, where necessary, specific recommendations for changes in the way plea bargaining operates within the larger criminal justice environment.  These issues will be examined from the perspective of all those involved in the criminal justice system, including prosecutors, defenders, defendants, judges, victims, and others.   

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Second Chance 

To determine ways to implement existing ABA policy on sealing or expunging criminal records.  

Co-Chairs: Wayne McKenzie, Kim Parker 

Visit the Task Force website

State Policy Implementation Project

Jonathan Gitlin, Chair

Task Force: Women in Criminal Justice

Co-Chairs: Carla Laroche and Tina Luongo 

Goals and Objectives: Highlight the challenges facing women practitioners in the criminal legal system and the unfortunate trend of women leaving the profession.

Provide recommendations to address the concerns specific to women in the criminal legal profession; and raise the influence and profile of women practitioners.

ResourcesPulling Back the Curtain: A Follow-Up Report from the ABA Criminal Justice Section's Task Force: Women in Criminal Justice. ABA Journal article on the report.  

Related ABA Task Forces

Task Force on Gatekeeper Regulation and the Profession