Criminal Justice Reform Clinic (CJRC) Updates
Expunging Juvenile Records Across Oregon
CJRC Fellow Natalie Hollabaugh ’21, an Equal Justice Works Fellow Attorney sponsored by Intel and Munger, Tolles & Olson LLP, worked with YRJ to establish the expansion program. Hollabaugh noted that youth records can impact “schooling, housing, employment, and more. In Oregon especially, youth of color are disproportionately represented in the system.”
Championing Legislation
The clinic partnered with the Multnomah County District Attorney’s Office and the Forensic Justice Project to advocate for Senate Bill 819, passed in June 2021, which establishes a procedure for people convicted of and sentenced for felony offenses to petition their sentencing court for reconsideration of their conviction(s) or sentence(s) if the original sentence no longer advances “the interests of justice.”
CJRC students involved in researching, reporting, and providing testimony included Radhika Shah ’23, Alexis Fisher ’21, Todd Smith ’21, and Bruce Myers ’20. The clinic was involved in a number of bills in the 2021–22 legislative sessions, including Senate Bill 751, “Relating to pretrial discovery”; Senate Bill 817,
“Relating to fees arising out of juvenile delinquency matters”; and Senate Bill 835, “Relating to early medical release from prison; declaring an emergency; providing for criminal sentence reduction that requires approval by a two-thirds majority.”
Seeking Pardons for Black Oregonians
CJRC is seeking to pardon nonexpungeable felonies from community members’ records in its Black Oregonian Pardon Project. The yearlong program identifies and represents people who were released from prison at least 10 years ago, have had no incidents since being released, have a nonexpungeable felony conviction that is holding them back in life, and are “living their best life,” according to Professor Aliza Kaplan, director of CJRC.
Students directly involved include Caroline Shen ’23, Mark Cebert ’22, and Sara Long ’22. Brittany Hill ’19, a former clinic student of CJRC, serves as the staff attorney for the Pardon Project.
Oregon Supreme Court Protects Disability Rights in Jail
In June 2022, the Oregon Supreme Court ruled that private medical entities operating in jails must follow state public accommodations laws. The ruling was a major victory for CJRC, which helped advocate for it.
More Clinic Updates
Global Law Alliance for Animals and the Environment Update
Small Business Legal Clinic Update
Low Income Taxpayer Clinic Updates
Green Energy Institute Updates
