About the National Center For Due Process
The National Center For Due Process is a young, tech-savvy, aggressive, and ambitious 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to criminal justice policy change. At the National Center For Due Process (NCDP), we feel there are fundamental flaws in America's criminal justice system that have led to our current prison epidemic:
The United States has o
nly 4.4% of the world's population, yet warehouses an alarming 25% of the world's prisoners. The United States locks up over 700 people per 100,000, which is at least 700% greater than most other democratic nations.
1 in 4 people in America will be adversely affected by the American criminal justice system. We occasionally highlight cases demonstrative of the fundamental flaws we see in our criminal justice system, and cases where the law was improperly applied, or inappropriate conduct impeded an individual's constitutional right to due process. Lastly, at the NCDP, we feel that there is a severe lack of transparency, accountability, and oversight in our criminal justice system. We aim to provide prosecutors and judges with these three necessities. We don't feel it's right that over 95% of state cases, and over 97% of federal cases are resolved through behind-the-scenes, non-transparent, coerced plea bargains. This is a far cry from the public, transparent, equally-balanced, open-court battles Americans see on television when they watch movies or shows depicting how our criminal justice system operates. How America's Prison Epidemic Began
At the NCDP, we feel that merely advocating for the wrongfully convicted, although a good thing, is simply not enough. We feel it's necessary not to treat the symptom, but rather the root causes that lead to wrongful convictions and disparate prison sentences. We research the flaws in our system and advocate for criminal justice policy change. Many of the flaws can be traced back to the 1980's, with the advent of the fictitious "tough on crime" campaign, along with the passage of the Comprehensive Crime Control Act of 1984, which resulted in the modern day sentencing guidelines as well as mandatory minimums. Additionally, this gave prosecutors the ability to request the defendant be detained indefinitely. Prosecutorial Powers Are Out-Of-Control
The legislative acts in 1984 gave prosecutors enormous, unchecked, and unimpeded powers that have grown exponentially to this day. Prosecutors determine the charge (even if it's an overreach that exceeds the burden to charge a defendant), the outcome of the case, and the sentence of the individual being prosecuted. This is not what the framers of America's Constitution envisioned when they attempted to protect future generations from the tyranny colonialists experienced under British rule. The NCDP aims to restore the intentions of the framers in this regard. Research and Advocate to Raise Awareness
At the NCDP, we want America to "wake up" and realize what's going on. Frankly, many Americans don't realize that their own civil liberties are devolving at an exponential rate. If this were to be allowed to continue without resistance, America would devolve to depths I am afraid to imagine. We are here to raise awareness, enlighten other Americans, and to ensure that the civil liberties of Americans sees an evolution, rather than more devolution. The Time For Change is Now
Too many Americans are charged with crimes; alternatives to sentencing are dissipating. There are too many laws, and the sentencing guidelines are far too harsh. The prison lobby is massive, powerful, and well-financed. Rehabilitation is nothing but an afterthought. It's time to change this country, bring our incarceration rates back to international democratic norms, abolish capital punishment (which we refer to as government-sponsored murder), and to develop an America where everybody has the opportunity to enjoy life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. Other place to find the NCDP on the web:
Twitter: https://twitter.com/nationalcdp
Google+: https://plus.google.com/+NationalcdpOrg
Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/national-center-for-due-process
Pinterest: http://www.pinterest.com/nationalcdp
WordPress: http://nationalcdp.wordpress.com
Tumblr: http://nationalcdp-org.tumblr.com
Blogger: http://nationalcdp.blogspot.com
