National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers
Volunteer Recruitment for the Michigan Clean Slate Week of Action
Help formerly incarcerated people overcome barriers to expungement and achieve a second chance.
Posted September 16, 2021
Background & Context
In 2020, Michigan lawmakers passed expansive clean slate legislation to increase expungement opportunities for formerly incarcerated individuals. As a result, on April 11th, residents became eligible to expunge up to three felonies and an unlimited number of misdemeanors, with exceptions for certain offenses.
Immediate Problem
September 24-29 and October 1-2, the Black & Brown Cannabis Guild will host a Michigan Clean Slate Week of Action. The Black & Brown Cannabis Guild works with legal support partners to provide expungement services and are currently in search of volunteer attorneys who would be willing to provide pro bono-legal assistance at events taking place on these dates. Volunteer opportunities include the following:
• Virtually screening registrants for expungement eligibility
• Drafting motions for court hearings/expungement during resource fairs.
Please note that participation in the expungement events does not establish any attorney-client relationships. Legal Support Volunteer Training Webinars for attorneys are mandatory and will be readily available prior to the events.
Sign-up to Volunteer
Please reach out to the Black & Brown Cannabis Guild at info@bbcannabis.com for the sign-up sheet or with any questions related to these events.
Work & Deliverables
• Virtually screening registrants for expungement eligibility
• Drafting motions for court hearings/expungement during resource fairs.
Preparation Phase
- Attend Legal Support Volunteer Training Webinars for attorneys are mandatory
- Sign-Up to volunteer
Collaboration Phase
- Drafting motions for court hearings/expungement during resource fairs.
- Virtually screening registrants for expungement eligibility.
Wrap Up
National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers
The National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers (NACDL) is the preeminent organization advancing the mission of the criminal defense bar to ensure justice and due process for persons accused of crime or wrongdoing. A professional bar association founded in 1958, NACDL's many thousands of direct members in 28 countries – and 90 state, provincial and local affiliate organizations totaling up to 40,000 attorneys – include private criminal defense lawyers, public defenders, military defense counsel, law professors and judges committed to preserving fairness and promoting a rational and humane criminal justice system. Mission NACDL envisions a society where all individuals receive fair, rational, and humane treatment within the criminal justice system. NACDL’s mission is to serve as a leader, alongside diverse coalitions, in identifying and reforming flaws and inequities in the criminal justice system, and redressing systemic racism, and ensuring that its members and others in the criminal defense bar are fully equipped to serve all accused persons at the highest level.
National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers
The National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers (NACDL) is the preeminent organization advancing the mission of the criminal defense bar to ensure justice and due process for persons accused of crime or wrongdoing. A professional bar association founded in 1958, NACDL's many thousands of direct members in 28 countries – and 90 state, provincial and local affiliate organizations totaling up to 40,000 attorneys – include private criminal defense lawyers, public defenders, military defense counsel, law professors and judges committed to preserving fairness and promoting a rational and humane criminal justice system. Mission NACDL envisions a society where all individuals receive fair, rational, and humane treatment within the criminal justice system. NACDL’s mission is to serve as a leader, alongside diverse coalitions, in identifying and reforming flaws and inequities in the criminal justice system, and redressing systemic racism, and ensuring that its members and others in the criminal defense bar are fully equipped to serve all accused persons at the highest level.