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Dear Clemency Project 2014 Volunteers,
First, on behalf of NACDL, our colleagues at the ABA, FAMM, the ACLU, federal public defenders, and the many other bar groups that are referring volunteer lawyers to Clemency Project 2014, I want to again extend our deepest gratitude for this remarkable outpouring of support in this effort. For those who have previously heard from us, this is a further update on where things stand. For those who have volunteered since our previous communication, welcome to the Project.
The most important piece of information to communicate is that the required training for all Clemency Project volunteers will be conducted via a live webinar on July 15 and 16. The program will be webcast from NACDL headquarters, and will also be available online shortly thereafter for on-demand viewing. Therefore, while live viewing is preferable, it is not mandatory. It is anticipated that the complete program will consist of four 90-minute segments.
Prior to the live training, all volunteers will be provided with a link to view the program agenda. We plan to conduct the program in an interactive manner to afford participants an opportunity to submit questions. If there are clarifying questions that cannot be addressed during the webcast, Project volunteers will share the questions and answers via an email subsequent to the live production. All participants, whether participating in the live webcast, or viewing it subsequently online, will be required to certify that they have viewed the entire training program before cases are assigned to them. Case assignment will begin shortly thereafter.
As many of you know, the Bureau of Prisons has been notifying all inmates serving federal sentences of the clemency initiative and its criteria. Additionally, all inmates are being advised that they may request pro bono counsel through Clemency Project 2014. Most inmates are receiving the notification and an electronic questionnaire via the BOP internal TRULINCS communications system. The results of that survey are transmitted to Clemency Project 2014 and imported into a tracking system that will be the central repository for all requests. The tracking system will provide you online access to verify and update the inmate’s information, as well as to track the progress of each case. As of now, we have received more than 18,000 requests for assistance. Additionally, the small percentage of inmates who cannot access the electronic survey have access to a paper questionnaire that they can mail to Clemency Project 2014. So far, we have received close to 1,000 questionnaires.
Thus, in addition to the tremendous efforts of a Training Committee that is assembling both the core training and supplementary materials to assist those who will be reviewing the inmate requests, we are spending the time between now and mid-July to organize and sort all of the electronic data, as well as to capture the raw data received on the paper questionnaires.
Additionally, sometime between now and the training program, you will be asked to register for the training and complete a survey. The survey will seek to determine how much time and resources you can devote to the project, and to provide the Project with some basic information about your experience level. This information will help the Project determine how best to employ your talents at the various phases of the review, screening, and petition drafting process.
We are extremely pleased that Cynthia Roseberry, an outstanding criminal defense lawyer who has most recently served as the Executive Director of the Federal Defenders for the Middle District of Georgia, will be coming to Washington, D.C. to serve as Project Manager. Once Cynthia arrives at her post, in the middle of this month, she will be the principal point person for you as volunteers and she will be responsible for the overall management of the Project.
Again, thank you for volunteering. We will continue to provide periodic updates via email. In the meantime, for those who can be available, we hope you will join us for the July 15 and 16 training webcast.
One final note: from time to time, we will send essential updates such as this to all volunteers for Clemency Project 2014. Please do not unsubscribe from this distribution list, as it will mean that you will no longer receive information concerning the project. For questions or updates about the Clemency Project, please send emails toclemencyproject@nacdl.org<mailto:clemencyproject@nacdl.org>.
With best regards and gratitude on behalf of my colleagues in Clemency Project 2014,
Norman L. Reimer
Executive Director
NACDL
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We encourage all interested attorney to join this worthwhile project.
Sincerely,
Edward R. Conan
2012 Past President
and
The Officers for the NDNY-Federal Court Bar Association
NDNY-Federal Court Bar Association
www.ndnyfcba.org
(315) 422-2799
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