COVID-19
COVID-19 presents an immediate threat to our team, our clients, and to justice. The defense community has rallied to face this unprecedented threat, continuing to be on the front lines fighting injustice and sharing information with others across the country, including NAPD and other defense organizations. NAPD has created a public resource page containing sample motions, orders, affidavits, guides, and solutions, sortable by type, state, and more.
In addition to the resources below, NAPD is now holding online meetups for executives, investigators, social workers, communicators, commission members, and other groups. Our listservs are a great way to safely keep in touch and leverage the commitment this community has to sharing what we have in the service of our clients. NAPD will be responsive to the needs of the community as they are requested of us, so please take advantage of what we have at the ready, and bring your ideas to ensure that we do our very best to deliver the right to counsel (and other associated civil liberties) during this challenging time. If you are not an individual or organizational member of NAPD, we encourage you to join. As a virtual association focused exclusively on public defense, we are prepared with many online resources ready-to-go, and are nimbly creating others to respond to this crisis. Please email heather@publicdefenders.us to connect.
In addition to the resources below, NAPD is now holding online meetups for executives, investigators, social workers, communicators, commission members, and other groups. Our listservs are a great way to safely keep in touch and leverage the commitment this community has to sharing what we have in the service of our clients. NAPD will be responsive to the needs of the community as they are requested of us, so please take advantage of what we have at the ready, and bring your ideas to ensure that we do our very best to deliver the right to counsel (and other associated civil liberties) during this challenging time. If you are not an individual or organizational member of NAPD, we encourage you to join. As a virtual association focused exclusively on public defense, we are prepared with many online resources ready-to-go, and are nimbly creating others to respond to this crisis. Please email heather@publicdefenders.us to connect.
Thank you to everyone for contributing and offering your expertise! Seeing the community come together is a rare positive in such bleak times.
Note: Given the subject matter, you should consider this page as a constant work in progress. We will continue to update the site as new information is received, so please check this page often. In addition to a PDF (or other filetype), we have included (where possible) the original source link should you need to cite to resource for a motion or other document (example - citing to a Supreme Court Administrative Order in a PR bond motion). If a court has established a COVID-Response page, we've also included the link there so that you can find as much information as possible.
Want to contribute? Please email Jonathan.NAPD@gmail.com with any information, resources, ideas, and/or questions. If possible, include source links and any explanatory language. Remember to remove any identifiable client information. The more detail you provide to us, the faster we can get the your contribution posted.
Are you a PD Trainer? NAPD hosts a weekly PD Trainer call every Friday afternoon to discuss the impact COVID-19 is having on training and development of attorneys and staff. If you're interested in participating in the call, contact Jeff.Sherr@publicdefenders.us
This page is divided into two separate tables, you can jump to either table by clicking on the name:
- Practice Related Materials - This table is for practice-related materials such as motions, judicial orders, affidavits, etc.
- Resources and Solutions - This table is for potential solutions to challenges outside of direct legal practice such as remote working tools, mental health/wellness resources, and community interaction. You can also find recovery resources on this table, such as online AA providers. This is a crucial aspect to our practice (both for clients and for ourselves).
11/18/20 UPDATE!!!!!!!! Today we discovered some coding errors that prevented the table from correctly ordering resources according to "DATE ADDED", "TYPE", and "STATE". This has been fixed and the resources now display correctly when you click on those headings. We apologize for any inconvenience or confusion this has caused!
Stay healthy and stay safe.
Note: Click the headers to sort the table. The first time you click, the sorting direction is ascending (A to Z). Click again, and the sorting direction will be descending (Z to A) Tip: To find the latest resources, click on Date Added.
| Name | Date | Date Added | Type | State | Download | Source | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| NAPD Virtual Court Statement (v8.1) | 2020-06-18 | 2020-06-21 | Statements | *Nationwide | DOC | Developed by the Online Courts Working Group and adopted by the NAPD Steering Committee, the Virtual Court Statement is intended to be distributed widely and used as you move back into court either voluntarily or involuntarily. It is the product of 15 or so public defenders from at least 10 states who have been working under the outstanding leadership of Kathleen Casey-Gamez. | |
| NAPD Fieldwork Best Practices & COVID -19 | 2020-06-19 | 2020-06-21 | Statements | *Nationwide | Are you wondering about returning your investigators, social workers, mitigation specialists, and others to the field in a way that is client-centered and protective of their safety and the safety of people they are speaking with? A group of people led by Herb Duzant of the Steering Committee and Jon Lyon have been meeting for some time and have produced a practical guide that you can distribute and use immediately. In addition, this group will continue to meet and update best practices as they develop. | ||
| Prisons Are Covid-19 Hotbeds. When Should Inmates Get the Vaccine? | 2020-11-30 | 2020-12-01 | Vaccination | *Nationwide | SOURCE | Yet the C.D.C. advisory committee has prioritized correctional officers and others who work in jails and prisons for the first phase of immunizations. The federal prison system will set aside its initial allotment for such employees, according to documents obtained by The Associated Press. The discrepancy raises a chilling prospect: another prison outbreak that kills scores of inmates after the only preventive was reserved for staff. | |
| Project Memo on The Impact of COVID-19 Vaccines on Capital Defense Practice | 2021-03-01 | 2021-03-01 | Vaccination | *Nationwide | Submission Note: The purpose of this memo is to help teams assess at what point during the vaccination process, meaning the process that gets vaccines to the public broadly, will it become safe and responsible to resume field investigations, expert evaluations, and jury trials without the need to wear face masks and other protective equipment or to practice social distancing? Vaccinated individuals have a substantially reduced risk of contracting COVID-19, but if he or she can still transmit the virus to others, additional precautions (e.g., social distancing and mask wearing) will remain necessary. Thus, existing concerns about individual and community spread will remain for some time, particularly in many of our client’s communities. | ||
| And Justice for None: How COVID-19 is Crippling the Criminal Jury Right | 2020-08-03 | 2020-08-30 | Online Courts | *Nationwide | SOURCE | Brandon Draper | Boston College Law Review Electronic Supplement | |
| Unmuted: Solutions to Safeguard Constitutional Rights in Virtual Courtrooms and How Technology Can Expand Access to Counsel and Transparency in the Criminal Justice System | 2020-08-27 | 2020-08-30 | Online Courts | *Nationwide | SOURCE | Matt Bender, University of Arkansas Law School; University of Michigan Law School | |
| ABA Resolution and Report on Virtual and Remote Court Proceedings | 2020-08-03 | 2020-08-30 | Policy | *Nationwide | SOURCE | ||
| Notice to Clients - Positive or Under Quarantine | 2020-06-20 | 2020-06-21 | Client Communication | *Nationwide | DOC | Developed to alert clients who are in a positive household or otherwise under quarantine to contact their attorney. Georgia template, adapt for your jurisdiction | |
| NAPD Statement: Letter to America | 2020-05-08 | Advocacy | *Nationwide | NAPD Site | State and local government budgets are already being slashed, and there is a threat of a deep recession or even talk of a depression. Now is no time for public defense budgets to be cut, as the need for our services will only go up. We hope that this statement will be useful to you in your advocacy. | ||
| CLE Tracker | 2020-05-10 | Resource Collection | *Nationwide | ABA | The ABA is tracking all the CLE changes | ||
| NASAM - Mitigation investigation during the COVID-19 Pandemic | 2020-07-12 | 2020-08-30 | Mitigation | *Nationwide | |||
| ABA STANDING COMMITTEE ON LEGAL AID AND INDIGENT DEFENSE COVID-19 Page | 2020-05-10 | Resource Collection | *Nationwide | ABA | See also Committee news tracker here | ||
| CRIMINAL JUSTICE AND VIDEOCONFERENCING TECHNOLOGY THE REMOTE DEFENDANT | 2020-05-25 | Online Court | *Nationwide | ||||
| Three Emergency Lawsuits Updated 2020-04-16 |
2020-04-06 | Motion | *Nationwide | per Civil Rights Corp Updated 2020-04-16 |
|||
| Jail Data Initiative | 2020-04-16 | Resource Collection | *Nationwide | Website | Graphs that visualize aggregated facility information--automatically updated daily. (Data available at the public JDI Github page) |
||
| Capital Trial Attorney Combined Resources | Resource Collection | *Nationwide | Box | ||||
| The Appeal: Focus on Coronavirus | 2020-04-10 | 2020-04-19 | Advocacy | *Nationwide | The Appeal | ||
| Administrative Office of US Courts Memo to US District Judges dated 2020-03-27 | 2020-03-27 | 2020-04-05 | Federal | *Nationwide | |||
| Administrative Office of US Courts Memo to US District Judges dated 2020-03-29 | 2020-03-29 | 2020-04-05 | Federal | *Nationwide | |||
| Public Defender Sample Talking Points - Coronavirus Rapid Response | 2020-03-25 | 2020-03-25 | Advocacy | *Nationwide | Zealous | ||
| Declaration of Emily Olson-Gault | 2020-04-19 | Affidavit | *Nationwide | See also: Tennessee Supreme Court Stays Prisoner’s Execution Because of Investigative Time Lost to Pandemic | |||
| Dr. Lasana Harris - Declaration on the dehumanization of capital defendants during trial in a pandemic | 2020-11-13 | Affidavit | *Nationwide | Declaration on the dehumanization of capital defendants during trial in a pandemic | |||
| Declaration of Cassandra Stubbs | 2020-04-19 | Affidavit | *Nationwide | Impacts of the COVID-19 Pandemic for Capital Defense Teams | |||
| Affidavit from Dr Jamie Meyer | 2020-03-15 | 2020-03-15 | Affidavit | *Nationwide | Civil Rights Corps | Many documents cite to this affidavit. | |
| Affidavit from Dr Jamie Meyer UPDATED | 2020-03-26 | 2020-03-30 | Affidavit | *Nationwide | Vermont | ||
| Affidavit from Dr. Danielle C Ompad | 2020-04-05 | Affidavit | *Nationwide | Associate Professor of Epidemiology at the New York University School of Global Public Health | |||
| Affidavit from Dr. Carlos Franco-Paredes MD, MPH - Letter to Policymakers, Judicial Officers, Sheriffs, Wardens, and Parole Boards | 2020-03-22 | 2020-03-30 | Affidavit | *Nationwide | |||
| Affidavit ADDENDUM from Dr. Carlos Franco-Paredes | 2020-04-01 | 2020-04-05 | Affidavit | *Nationwide | |||
| Affidavit from Dr. Zinzi Bailey | 2020-04-05 | Affidavit | *Nationwide | ||||
| Affidavit from Dr. Brie Williams | 2020-04-05 | Affidavit | *Nationwide | Faculty Page | Professor of Medicine at University of California, San Francisco and director of UCSF's Criminal Justice and Health Program | ||
| Bail Motion Template | 2020-03-15 | Motion | *Nationwide | DOC | Civil Rights Corps | ||
| ABA Civil Rights & Social Justice COVID-19 Webinar Series | 2020-04-16 | Webinar | *Nationwide | ABA | Multi-part series exploring the recent COVID-19 pandemic at the intersection of criminal justice, civil rights, and economic concerns, among other legal areas. | ||
| How Defense Sleuths Are Forging Ahead Despite A Pandemic | 2020-04-19 | 2020-04-21 | Investigator | *Nationwide | Law360 | ||
| Reentry Planning for COVID-19 Releases | 2020-04-07 | 2020-04-15 | Webinar | *Nationwide | ABA | ||
| Expanding Pretrial Release in the Age of COVID-19 | 2020-04-01 | 2020-04-05 | Webinar | *Nationwide | ABA | Recording and Materials Available on Website | |
| Training Group | 2020-04-16 | Training | *Nationwide | NAPD hosts a weekly PD Trainer call every Friday afternoon to discuss the impact COVID-19 is having on training and development of attorneys and staff. If you're interested in participating in the call, contact Jeff | |||
| Coronavirus Anxiety Workbook | 2020-04-19 | Wellness | *Nationwide | The Wellness Society | |||
| How to use Zoom to facilitate counsel at first appearance and all critical stages while staying home and staying safe | 2020-04-16 | Online Court | *Nationwide | DOC | Related resource: Compliance with Michigan IDC Standard 4 During the COVID-19 Pandemic | ||
| Letter to Officials re: Jail | 2020-03-15 | Advocacy | *Nationwide | Civil Rights Corps | Originally from Texas, CRC encourages referencing it. | ||
| Motion to Challenge the Continued Pre-Trial Confinement of At-Risk Clients | 2020-03-15 | Motion | *Nationwide | DOC | NACDL | ||
| A State-by-State Look at Coronavirus in Prisons | 2020-05-03 | Jail | *Nationwide | The Marshall Project | The Marshall Project is collecting data on COVID-19 infections in state and federal prisons. See how the virus has affected correctional facilities where you live | ||
| Online Courts | 2020-05-03 | Online Court | *Nationwide | Website | Blog housing news articles related to online courts. Ran by Katie Casey-Gamez, who is also leading the Online Courts workgroup with NAPD. | ||
| Resource Collection (NACDL) | 2020-03-18 | Resource Collection | *Nationwide | NACDL | |||
| Resource Collection (NLADA) | 2020-03-18 | Resource Collection | *Nationwide | NLADA | |||
| Resource Collection (Hofstra University Dropbox) | 2020-04-05 | Resource Collection | *Nationwide | Dropbox | |||
| Professor Berman's Sentencing Blog | 2020-04-05 | Resource Collection | *Nationwide | Blog | |||
| Civil Rights Clearinghouse's COVID-19 Collection | 2020-04-05 | Resource Collection | *Nationwide | Website | |||
| 5th Circuit Order No 2020-05 re: Oral Arguments | 2020-04-21 | 2020-05-10 | Order | Federal | |||
| Court Appearances in Criminal Proceedings Through Telepresence | 2020-01-20 | 2020-05-25 | Online Court | *Nationwide | NIJ/RAND | ||
| Efficiency and Cost: The Impact of Videoconferenced Hearings on Bail Decisions | 2010 (Summer) | 2020-05-25 | Online Court | *Nationwide | Source | ||
| Videoconferencing in the Courts: An Explanatory Studey of Impact on Attorney-client Relationship | 2015-03 | 2020-05-25 | Online Court | *Nationwide | Source | Focused in MA, but good information. | |
| Americans Remain Risk Averse About Getting Back to Normal | 2020-04-14 | 2020-05-29 | Jury | *Nationwide | Gallup | Not directly related to court, but may be useful in a motion | |
| COVID-19 Survey | 2020-05-03 | 2020-05-29 | Jury | *Nationwide | Washington Post | Not directly related to court, but may be useful in a motion | |
| Jurors in a Post-Pandemic World: What Litigators Need to Know | 2020-04-20 | 2020-05-29 | Jury | *Nationwide | Vinson & Company | Research Article Source |
|
| Americans remain concerned that states will lift restrictions too quickly, but partisan differences widen | 2020-05-07 | 2020-05-29 | Jury | *Nationwide | Pew Research | Not directly related to court, but may be useful in a motion | |
| Despite widespread economic hardship, most Americans not ready to reopen, poll says | 2020-04-29 | 2020-05-29 | Jury | *Nationwide | PBS News Hour | Not directly related to court, but may be useful in a motion | |
| 80 percent of those who died of Covid-19 in Texas county jails were never convicted of a crime | 2020-11-12 | 2020-11-13 | Article | *Nationwide | VOX | ||
| Hogan lawsuit seeking release of detainees who are susceptible to serious illness or death if they were to contract COVID-19. | 2020-03-15 | Article | *Nationwide | This document contains an abundance of medical and legal authority which may be helpful in your efforts to seek the release of similarly situated persons within your jurisdiction. | |||
| Black Women Have Long Faced Racism in Healthcare. COVID-19 Is Only Amplifying It | 2020-04-10 | 2020-04-18 | Race | *Nationwide | The Appeal | ||
| Why Are We Transferring Potentially Sick Inmates Across the Country Without Testing Them First? | 2020-04-02 | 2020-04-18 | Article | *Nationwide | Mother Jones | ||
| Internal Prison Guard Email Contradicts Government's Claims To Judges About Containing Coronavirus At Federal Detention Center | 2020-04-10 | 2020-04-18 | Article | *Nationwide | The Intercept | ||
| Tips For Prisoner Release Requests During Pandemic | 2020-04-12 | 2020-04-18 | Article | *Nationwide | Law360 | ||
| District Courts Using First Step Act Compassionate Release To Remedy Unjust 924(c) Stacking | 2020-04-16 | 2020-04-18 | Federal | *Nationwide | FD.ORG | ||
| The United States Supreme Court’s announcement that it will hear telephonic oral argument in May | 2020-04-14 | 2020-04-18 | Online Court | *Nationwide | FD.ORG | ||
| USSC publication of a new titled Path of Federal Criminality: Mobility and Criminal History | 2020-04-14 | 2020-04-18 | Sentencing | *Nationwide | FD.ORG | ||
| Prisoner Serving Time for Drug Charge is First US Inmate to Die from COVID-19 | 2020-03-28 | 2020-04-05 | Article | *Nationwide | Source | ||
| 8 Ways to Manage Your Team While Social Distancing | 2020-03-24 | 2020-03-31 | Employment | *Nationwide | Harvard Business Review | ||
| California Prisons on Alert | 2020-03-06 | 2020-03-15 | Article | *Nationwide | The Sacramento Bee | Useful as attachment | |
| CDC Guidelines | 2020-03-25 | Article | *Nationwide | CDC | Useful as attachment | ||
| COVID-19 in Chinese Prisons | 2020-03-09 | 2020-03-25 | Article | *Nationwide | The Diplomat | Useful as attachment | |
| Public Health Case for Criminal Justice Reform | 2020-03-06 | 2020-03-25 | Article | *Nationwide | Prison Policy Initiative | Useful as attachment | |
| Prisons and jails are vulnerable to COVID-19 outbreaks | 2020-03-07 | 2020-03-25 | Article | *Nationwide | The Verge | Useful as attachment | |
| World Health Organizations - Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) advice for the public | 2020-03-18 | 2020-03-25 | Article | *Nationwide | WHO | Useful as attachment | |
| Prisons And Jails Worry About Becoming Coronavirus 'Incubators' | 2020-03-13 | 2020-03-25 | Article | *Nationwide | NPR | Useful as attachment | |
| Prosecutors Across U.S. Call for Action to Mitigate Spread of Coronavirus in Jails and Prisons | 2020-03-17 | 2020-03-25 | Article | *Nationwide | The Appeal | Useful as attachment | |
| COVID-19 Fact Sheet: Practices to Avoid in Jails and Prisons | 2020-03-25 | Article | *Nationwide | The Justice Collaborative | |||
| Intercepted Podcast | 2020-03-25 | 2020-03-30 | Policy | *Nationwide | Intercepted Episode Page | Jeremy Scahill interviews Premal Dharia about the urgent need to release people from jails & prisons. Note: The segment starts at 44:30 | |
| Labor Law: What the new coronavirus relief bill means for paid sick leave | 2020-03-19 | 2020-03-25 | Employment | *Nationwide | Richmond Times-Dispatch | ||
| Comprehensive And Updated FAQs For Employers On The COVID-19 Coronavirus | 2020-03-25 | Employment | *Nationwide | Fisher Phillips Website | |||
| Employment Law Questions Related to the COVID-19 Pandemic | 2020-03-25 | Employment | *Nationwide | Wilson Elser Website | |||
| Comprehensive List of State Court COVID-19 Websites | 2020-03-25 | Response Page | *Nationwide | National Center for State Courts | |||
| American Diabetes Association - Letter to Detention Centers | 2020-03-25 | Advocacy | *Nationwide | Source Additional Information |
Educational aid for courts, detention centers, and other officials on the unique challenges and risks of COVID-19 for individuals with Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes. | ||
| Webinar: Treatment Courts & COVID-19 | 2020-03-26 | 2020-03-25 | Advocacy | *Nationwide | Event Page | The National Association of Drug Court Professionals (NADCP) and the National Center for State Courts (NCSC) hosted a free webinar on treatment courts and COVID-19 | |
| World Health Organization - Preparedness, Prevention, and Control of COVID-19 in Prisons and Other Places of Detention | 2020-03-15 | 2020-03-30 | Article | *Nationwide | |||
| How Nonprofit Leaders Can Keep Their Organizations Afloat | 2020-04-21 | 2020-04-27 | Employee | *Nationwide | Harvard Business Review | ||
| COVID Court Order Suspending In-Person Court Proceedings | 2020-03-13 | 2020-03-24 | Order | Alabama | Link | ||
| Supreme Court COVID Response Page | 2020-03-24 | Response Page | Alabama | COVID Page | |||
| Court of Appeals Order Reversing Bail Decision for Failing To Account For Impact of COVID | 2020-03-24 | 2020-03-30 | Order | Alaska | |||
| Order - Breyer Order | 2020-05-29 | Order | California | Contributor note: powerful order from Judge Breyer of the Northern District of CA. His order rejects a plea agreement on the grounds that he finds the waiver regarding a client's ability to bring a motion pursuant to 18 usc 3582(c)(1)(A) to be inhumane. The government's effort here, to drastically limit our clients' abilities to seek this relief, is a direct result of the many compassionate release motions the northern district defense bar have brought to release imprisoned clients at risk for Covid-19. | |||
| TRO in Barr v. Flores | 2020-03-28 | 2020-04-05 | Immigration | California | Finding that ICE and the Office of Refugee Resettlement are not capable of providing safe and sanitary conditions for minors, as they had agreed to in a consent decree, and ordering immediate release | ||
| Solano County - Emergency Relief Implementation Order | 2020-03-17 | 2020-03-24 | Order | California | |||
| Solano County - Judicial Council Letter to Oscar Bobrow | 2020-03-18 | 2020-03-24 | Advocacy | California | |||
| Solano County - Letter to Chief Justice | 2020-03-16 | 2020-03-24 | Advocacy | California | |||
| Sample COVID Bail Motion | 2020-03-21 | 2020-03-24 | Motion | California | DOC | ||
| Solano Co - Shelter at Home Order | 2020-03-18 | 2020-03-24 | Order | California | |||
| Colorado Rules of Criminal Procedure - Rule 43 | 2020-05-2525 | Online Court | Colorado | Source | Presence of the Defendant (note 43(e) covers Presence of the Defendant by Interactive Audiovisual Device) | ||
| Governor's Guidance to Counties, Municipalities, Law Enforcement Agencies, and Detention Centers | 2020-03-24 | 2020-03-30 | Order | Colorado | |||
| Dr. Carlos Franco-Paredes MD, MPH - Letter to Policymakers, Judicial Officers, Sheriffs, Wardens, and Parole Boards | 2020-03-22 | 2020-03-30 | Affidavit | Colorado | |||
| Aurora - Commutation of Sentence in Light of Health and Safety Concerns - Letter to Judge and Aurora City Counsel | 2020-03-30 | Advocacy | Colorado | ||||
| Colorado COVID Response Page | 2020-03-24 | Response Page | Colorado | Colorado Criminal Defense Bar | |||
| Municipal Court Announcement | 2020-03-16 | 2020-03-24 | Court | Colorado | DOC | ||
| Aurora - Bond Reduction Motion | 2020-03-24 | Motion | Colorado | DOC | |||
| Aurora - Reconsideration (35(b)) Motion | 2020-03-24 | Motion | Colorado | DOC | |||
| Combined organizations letter to Governor and others requesting immediate action to address COVID-19 in Colorado's jail and prisons | 2020-03-17 | 2020-03-24 | Advocacy | Colorado | |||
| Emergency Motion - Pretrial | 2020-03-24 | Motion | DC | DOC | |||
| Emergency Motion - Rule 35 | 2020-03-24 | Motion | DC | DOC | |||
| Declaration of Anthony Swain (Updated 4/16/20) |
2020-04-06 | Motion | Florida | See also:
|
|||
| Proposed Motion for TRO (Anthony Swain) (Updated 4/16/20) |
2020-04-06 | Motion | Florida | See also:
|
|||
| Emergency Motion and Memorandum of Law In Support Of Motion For Temporary Restraining Order and Preliminary Injunction | 2020-04-16 | Motion | Florida | Result: Order Granting in Part Plaintiffs’ Emergency Motion for a Temporary Restraining Order |
|||
| Emergency Habeas and Injunction Motion | 2020-04-06 | Motion | Florida | See also:
|
|||
| Georgia Pandemic Bench Guide (2018) | 2018 | 2020-04-21 | Policy | Georgia | |||
| Bond Motion | 2020-03-24 | Motion | Georgia | DOC | |||
| GA Northern Circuit - OR Bond Order | 2020-03-24 | Order | Georgia | ||||
| General Information Memo to Clients in Custody about COVID-19 and Our Relationship to Them | 2020-03-20 | 2020-03-24 | Policy | Georgia | DOC | Law Office of the Public Defender, Augusta Judicial Circuit | |
| Southern Center for Human Rights - Letter to all 159 Sheriffs in Georgia | 2020-03-24 | 2020-03-24 | Advocacy | Georgia | Source | ||
| Hawaii | 2020-04-21 | Motion | Hawaii | ||||
| Amy Campanelli's interview on the COVID-19 crisis at Cook County jail. | 2020-04-10 | 2020-04-18 | Advocacy | Illinois | MSNBC | ||
| Emergency Motion for Temporary Restraining Order or Preliminary Injunction | 2020-04-06 | Motion | Illinois | ||||
| Cook County Petition for Release from Jail with Exhibits & Supporting Amicus Brief | 2020-03-25 | Motion | Illinois | ||||
| First Steps for Bail Appeal | 2020-03-25 | Motion | Kentucky | DOC | |||
| Bond Reduction | 2020-03-25 | Motion | Kentucky | DOC | |||
| Felony Shock Probation Motion | 2020-03-25 | Motion | Kentucky | DOC | |||
| Bail Motion | 2020-03-25 | Motion | Kentucky | DOC | |||
| Probation Motion | 2020-03-25 | Motion | Kentucky | DOC | |||
| Bond Appeal Packet | 2020-03-25 | Motion | Kentucky | DOC | |||
| Motion to Release on Personal Bond | 2020-03-25 | Motion | Kentucky | DOC | |||
| Sample Bond Appeal Packet | 2020-03-25 | Motion | Kentucky | DOC | |||
| Jail Visit Disclaimer | 2020-03-25 | Policy | Kentucky | DOC | |||
| Supreme Court Order | 2020-03-17 | 2020-03-25 | Order | Kentucky | |||
| Supreme Court Order (Amended) | 2020-03-26 | 2020-03-26 | Order | Kentucky | Source | ||
| Motion to Challenge the Continued Pre-Trial Confinement of At-Risk Clients | 2020-03-25 | Motion | Kentucky | DOC | |||
| Bond Reduction | 2020-03-24 | Motion | Louisiana | DOC | |||
| Motion to Lift Probation Hold | 2020-03-24 | Motion | Louisiana | DOC | |||
| Motion to Release Particular to Probation and Parole | 2020-03-24 | Motion | Louisiana | DOC | |||
| Omnibus Judicial Release | 2020-03-24 | Motion | Louisiana | DOC | |||
| NOLA - Emergency Habeas Petition - Immediate Release of Vulnerable and Low-Risk Inmates | 2020-03-29 | Motion | Louisiana | Source | Includes press release. Petition begins on page 3 of PDF | ||
| Videoconferencing in the Courts: An Explanatory Studey of Impact on Attorney-client Relationship in Massachusetts | 2015-03 | 2020-05-25 | Online Court | Massachusetts | Source | ||
| Conditional Release | 2020-04-05 | Motion | Massachusetts | DOC | Intro email | ||
| Bail Reduction | 2020-04-05 | Motion | Massachusetts | DOC | Intro email | ||
| Dr Zinzi Bailey Affidavit | 2020-04-05 | Affidavit | Massachusetts | ||||
| Petition to Mass Supreme Judicial Court asking for relief for certain incarcerated individuals and individuals at risk of incarceration who are affected by the COVID-19 pandemic | 2020-03-24 | 2020-03-27 | Advocacy | Massachusetts | Filed by The Massachusetts Public Defender, in partnership with the Massachusetts Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers (MACDL), and their counsel the American Civil Liberties Union of Massachusetts (ACLUM) | ||
| Press Release re: Petition to Mass Supreme Court | 2020-03-24 | 2020-03-27 | Advocacy | Massachusetts | The Massachusetts Public Defender, in partnership with the Massachusetts Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers (MACDL), and their counsel the American Civil Liberties Union of Massachusetts (ACLUM), filed a petition in the Supreme Judicial Court asking for relief for certain incarcerated individuals and individuals at risk of incarceration who are affected by the COVID-19 pandemic | ||
| Virtual Court Directory | 2020-05-26 | Online Court | Michigan | Site | |||
| Compliance with MIDC Standard 4 During the COVID-19 Pandemic | 2020-04-16 | Online Court | Michigan | PPT | Related resource: How to use Zoom to facilitate counsel at first appearance and all critical stages while staying home and staying safe | ||
| Supreme Court COVID Response Page | 2020-03-24 | Response Page | Michigan | COVID Page | |||
| Collected Michigan Pleadings and Resources | 2020-03-24 | Motion | Michigan | Site | Michigan State Appellate Defender Office | ||
| Governor's Executive Order 2020-29 | 2020-03-29 | 2020-03-29 | Order | Michigan | Source | Temporary COVID-19 protocols for entry into Michigan Department of Corrections facilities and transfers to and from Department custody; temporary recommended COVID-19 protocols and enhanced early-release authorization for county jails, local lockups, and juvenile detention centers | |
| Supreme Court Order | 2020-03-15 | 2020-03-24 | Order | Michigan | Source | Contributor note: [this] might inform other jurisdictions [because] it does a really good job of balancing rights of in custody folks with public health concerns. | |
| Letter to Judges | 2020-03-20 | 2020-03-24 | Advocacy | Michigan | |||
| Urgent Executive and Legislative Proposals | 2020-03-20 | 2020-03-24 | Advocacy | Michigan | |||
| "Do I need to wear a facemask" policy | 2020-04-09 | 2020-04-19 | Policy | Minnesota | Source | Additional policies located at source website. Note: Given the situation, it's advisable to check the website for the most current version of a policy. | |
| Court's COVID Page | 2020-03-24 | Response Page | Missouri | Homepage | |||
| Supreme Court Order | 2020-03-16 | 2020-03-24 | Order | Missouri | Source | Among other directives, the order suspends – with certain listed exceptions – all in-person proceedings in all state courts through April 3 and authorizing local courts to determine the manner in which the listed exceptions should be conducted | |
| Supreme Court Policy | 2020-03-16 | 2020-03-24 | Court Policy | Missouri | |||
| Court's COVID Page | 2020-03-24 | Response Page | Mississippi | Homepage | No dedicated page, but homepage links to various resources | ||
| Emergency Order | 2020-03-13 | 2020-03-24 | Order | Mississippi | Source | ||
| Emergency Order Supplemental | 2020-03-15 | 2020-03-24 | Order | Mississippi | Source | ||
| N.J. judge orders release of 5 ICE detainees as coronavirus outbreak mounts in jails | 2020-04-13 | 2020-04-18 | Immigration | New Jersey | New York Daily News | ||
| Order - Commute or Suspend County Jail Sentences | 2020-03-22 | 2020-03-28 | Order | New Jersey | Source | ||
| Press Release re: Order - Commute or Suspend County Jail Sentences | 2020-03-23 | 2020-03-28 | Court | New Jersey | Source | ||
| New Jersey Set to Release Up to 1,000 County Jail Inmates | 2020-03-24 | 2020-03-28 | Article | New Jersey | Source | ||
| Webinar discussing the recent order that is expected to result in the release of 1000 people in New Jersey. | 2020-03-28 | Advocacy | New Jersey | ABA | Updated link to recorded webinar and resources (20.3.30) | ||
| LOPD Safe Workplace Directive | 2020-04-19 | Employee | New Mexico | ||||
| Employee Newsletter (Work from home/Coronavirus Edition) | 2020-03-30 | 2020-04-05 | Employee | New Mexico | |||
| LOPD Press Release re: Positive COVID-19 test for state public defender closes Santa Fe Office, prompts contact tracing | 2020-03-25 | 2020-03-29 | Press Release | New Mexico | |||
| Development Tracker | 2020-03-24 | Response Page | New York | NY State Defenders Association | |||
| Video Arraignments | 2020-03-19 | 2020-03-24 | Policy | New York | |||
| PETITION FOR WRIT OF HABEAS CORPUS AND COMPLAINT FOR INJUNCTIVE RELIEF | 2020-03-20 | 2020-03-30 | Motion | New York | Bronx Defenders, Legal Aid NY, et. al. | Pacer Site | |
| PLAINTIFFS’ MEMORANDUM OF LAW IN SUPPORT OF THEIR MOTION FOR A TEMPORARY RESTRAINING ORDER | 2020-03-20 | 2020-03-30 | Motion | New York | Bronx Defenders, Legal Aid NY, et. al. | Pacer Site | |
| Mass Writ | 2020-03-30 | Motion | New York | DOC | Bronx Defenders, Legal Aid NY, et. al. | ||
| Mass Writ Parole | 2020-03-30 | Motion | New York | DOC | Bronx Defenders, Legal Aid NY, et. al. | ||
| New York State Bar Association Committee on Mandated Representation & Criminal Justice Section Resolution (including intro email) | 2020-03-24 | 2020-03-28 | Advocacy | New York | |||
| Hogan Lawsuit | 2020-03-28 | Advocacy | New York | Seeks release of detainees on Rikers Island who are susceptible to serious illness or death if they were to contract the Covid-19 virus. This document contains an abundance of medical and legal authority which may be helpful in your efforts to seek the release of similarly situated persons within your jurisdiction. | |||
| Habeas Petition Inmates at Elkton Federal Correctional Institution | 2020-05-10 | Motion | Ohio | ||||
| Emergency Petition for Writ of Habeas Corpus, Injunctive, and Declaratory Relief, Class Action | 2020-04-13 | 2020-04-18 | Motion | Ohio | FD.ORG | ||
| Tennessee Supreme Court Stays Prisoner’s Execution Because of Investigative Time Lost to Pandemic | 2020-04-18 | Capital | Tennessee | Death Penalty Information Center | Contains motions and affidavits, along with information on multiple cases | ||
| Virtual Courtroom Directory | 2020-05-26 | Online Court | Texas | Site | |||
| Coalition Letter to Governor Abbott on Detention in Texas State Facilities During COVID-19 | 2020-04 | 2020-05-10 | Advocacy | Texas | Source | Signed by NAPD, NLADA, NACDL, NELP, PJI, and others | |
| Motion and Memorandum in Support of Motion for Temporary Restraining Order and Preliminary Injunction | 2020-04-06 | Motion | Texas | ||||
| Lawsuit challenging GA-13 | 2020-04-08 | 2020-04-16 | Lawsuit | Texas | Source | ||
| Supreme Court COVID Page | 2020-03-24 | Response Page | Texas | Homepage | |||
| First Emergency Order | 2020-03-13 | 2020-03-24 | Order | Texas | Source | ||
| Statewide Public Defense Update Email | 2020-03-16 | 2020-03-24 | Policy | Texas | |||
| Governor's Letter to Agency Heads | 2020-03-13 | 2020-03-24 | Policy | Texas | |||
| Motion for Continuance | 2020-03-24 | Motion | Texas | DOC | |||
| Habeas Extension Motion | 2020-03-24 | Motion | Texas | ||||
| Release Motion | 2020-03-24 | Motion | Texas | DOC | |||
| Personal Bond Release Motion | 2020-03-24 | Motion | Texas | DOC | |||
| Letter to Officials re: Harris County Jail | 2020-03-24 | Advocacy | Texas | ||||
| Resource Collection (TIDC Dropbox) | 2020-03-24 | Resource Collection | Texas | Dropbox | TIDC has setup a Dropbox with many resources including declarations, affidavits, motions, orders, and other general materials. They'll be adding more to it as well. | ||
| Texas judges will be able to conduct court online as coronavirus spreads | 2020-03-20 | 2020-03-28 | Article | Texas | KVUE ABC News | ||
| Romero v State | 2005 | 2020-09-21 | Caselaw | Texas | Submission Note: 2005 case that deals with a state’s witness testifying in a “disguise”. The court of appeals ruled this violated 6th amendment confrontation and the CCA affirmed the COA. If you read the opinion, Judge Keller, writing for the majority, went to great lengths to emphasize the importance of seeing a witnesses face, facial expressions and witness demeanor. I think this case could be applied to the mask situation we are facing now in Texas.One caveat is that the court said that encroachment of face-to-face confrontation is permitted only when it furthers, “an important public interest” and reliability is otherwise assured. Be prepared for the argument that safety during COVID-19 is an important public interest. | ||
| Governor's Executive Order - no authority may release on personal bond anyone previous convicted of a crime of violence, or charged with a crime of violence supported by probable cause | 2020-03-29 | 2020-03-29 | Order | Texas | SOURCE | ||
| Omnibus Motion for Release | 2020-04-21 | Motion | Utah | DOC | |||
| Objection to Prelim Hearing | 2020-04-21 | Motion | Utah | DOC | |||
| Summary of Objections to Certain Video Hearings | 2020-04-21 | Motion | Utah | DOC | |||
| Bail Motion | 2020-03-24 | Motion | Vermont | DOC | |||
| Juvenile Resources | 2020-03-30 | Juvenile | Vermont | Vermont Google Doc | |||
| Resource Collection | 2020-03-30 | Resource Collection | Vermont | Vermont Website | |||
| Motion for Bond Modification Based on Changed Circumstances | 2020-03-25 | Motion | Virginia | DOC | |||
| Joint Statement from Public Safety Agencies | 2020-03-27 | Advocacy | Virginia | DOC | |||
| Agreed Order to Modify Sentence | 2020-03-25 | Motion | Virginia | DOC | |||
| Motion for Resentencing | 2020-03-25 | Motion | Virginia | DOC | |||
| Motion to Advance Hearing Date | 2020-03-25 | Motion | Virginia | DOC | |||
| Motion to Convert Bench Warrant to Show Cause | 2020-03-25 | Motion | Virginia | DOC | |||
| Motion to Recognize Client's Limited Agreement to Toll Speedy Trial | 2020-03-25 | Motion | Virginia | DOC | |||
| Motion Objecting to Continuance and Asserting Right to Speedy Trial | 2020-03-25 | Motion | Virginia | DOC | |||
| Motion for Pre-Trial Release of At-Risk Clients, Change in Circumstance (Template Body) | 2020-03-25 | Motion | Virginia | DOC | |||
| Implementation of the Standards for Indigent Defense During the Coronavirus Emergency | 2020-09-25 | Guidance | Washington | Washington State Bar Assocation | Advisory Notice by WSBA Council on Public Defense | ||
| Time-Sensitive Motion for Compassionate Release | 2020-04-05 | Motion | Washington | ||||
| Defendant's Emergency Motion for Detention Review | 2020-04-05 | Motion | Washington | DOC | |||
| Memo in Support of Release | 2020-04-05 | Motion | Washington | ||||
| Order - In re: Hearing by Video or Telephone as Authorized by The CARES Act | 2020-03-30 | 2020-04-05 | Order | Washington | |||
| Resource handbook for clients’ issues, prepared by Keller Williams Realty | 2020-04-05 | Client Resource | Washington | ||||
| Compassionate Release Motion #2 | 2020-04-05 | Motion | Washington | ||||
| Resource Collection (Washington Defender Association) | 2020-03-25 | Resource Collection | Washington | Link | |||
| Order - Court to Slow | 2020-03-18 | 2020-03-24 | Order | Washington | |||
| Representing Your Detained During a Pandemic | 2020-04-09 | 2020-04-19 | Webinar | West Virginia | Website | Recording and materials available on website | |
| Habeas Petition | 2020-04-09 | 2020-04-19 | Motion | West Virginia | |||
| Supreme Court COVID Page | 2020-03-24 | Response Page | West Virginia | WV Homepage | |||
| Administrative Order | 2020-03-16 | 2020-03-24 | Order | West Virginia | Source | ||
| Supreme Court Press Release | 2020-03-16 | 2020-03-24 | Press Release | West Virginia | Source | ||
| Bail/Bond Reduction Motion | 2020-03-24 | Motion | West Virginia | DOC | |||
| Lawyer Work From Home Policy | 2020-03-24 | Policy | West Virginia | DOC |
| Name | Category | Group | Date Added | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Google Voice | Communication | Tech | 2020-03-24 | You can utilize a Google voice to make calls from your computer or through the app. This is separate from your personal phone number. You can also text with it and your voicemails get transcribed. |
| Microsoft Teams | Communication | Tech | 2020-03-24 | You can communicate with your team, contact clients, and access shared files using Microsoft Teams |
| Zoom | Communication | Tech | 2020-03-24 | Prices vary depending on features, including HIPAA/PIPEDA plans starting at $200 per month |
| Lifesize | Communication | Tech | 2020-03-24 |
|
| Skype | Communication | Tech | 2020-03-24 | Part of Office-365 and Microsoft Teams |
| Jabber | Communication | Tech | 2020-03-24 | Phone solution through CISCO VPN |
| Unity Recovery | Recovery | Support | 2020-03-24 | Meetings 7 days a week at 9am, 12pm, 3pm, 9pm (EST) |
| In The Rooms | Recovery | Support | 2020-03-24 | In The Rooms is a free online recovery tool that offers 130 weekly online meetings for those recovering from addiction and related issues. They embrace multiple pathways to recovery, including all 12 Step, Non-12 Step, Wellness and Mental Health modalities |
| Smart Recovery | Recovery | Support | 2020-03-24 | Self-Management And Recovery Training (SMART) is a global community of mutual-support groups. At meetings, participants help one another resolve problems with any addiction (to drugs or alcohol or to activities such as gambling or over-eating). |
| Recovery Dharma | Recovery | Support | 2020-03-24 | Recovery Dharma Online organizes daily meetings accessible via computer, smartphone, or dial-in. Together we meditate, study Buddhist teachings, and support each other on our paths to sobriety and peace |
| Objections to Certain Video Hearings | Advocacy | Tech | 2020-04-21 | This contains a summary of Utah's objections to certain video hearings. We've included it here given the subject matter. (It's included above as well.) |