More Than Their Worst Act: CJRC’s Parole Advocates

A parole hearing represents a critical, high-stakes milestone for adults in custody (AICs). It is the intense culmination of years of deep personal rehabilitation and months of rigorous preparation, condensed into just a few hours of life-altering testimony. Yet, despite the immense gravity of these proceedings, a systemic shortage of specialized parole defense attorneys means that many incarcerated individuals in Oregon must navigate this complex, daunting system entirely alone.

The Criminal Justice Reform Clinic (CJRC or Clinic) is actively stepping into this gap. Led by Professor Aliza Kaplan, the Clinic trains law students to become compassionate, client-centered advocates, providing essential legal support while reshaping the future of Oregon’s legal landscape. The long-term impact of this training is undeniable: almost all of the attorneys that take parole cases today, are Clinic alumni or were trained in the Clinic.

As our latest class of student advocates graduates and transitions into their legal careers, they carry forward the profound truth that lies at the heart of the Clinic’s mission: “people are more than their worst act.”

Bringing Compassion and Skill to the Legal Field

Through the CJRC Parole Project, students step far beyond standard textbook rules to master client-centered advocacy. By conducting deeply personal interviews, they help adults in custody navigate what Will Currell ’26 described as an “arduous, and at times bruising” system. Currell advocated for a client who entered custody as a minor and completed extensive personal rehabilitation, but desperately needed help translating that growth for the Parole Board.

Will Currell ’26 with his Parole Project Client.This intensive, hands-on storytelling requires building deep trust, particularly when clients have survived significant trauma. When Dani Prasad ’26 encountered a client hesitant to discuss their past, his supervising attorney guided him to begin with broader questions focused on positive childhood memories.

“At the outset, I was struck by the level of trust my clients placed in me,” said Nina Okawa ’26, who represented three clients across their first, second, and final hearings. “Over time… I was continually moved by my clients’ introspection, accountability, and willingness to candidly discuss their actions, the harm they caused, and the regret they carried.”

This profound level of care demands immense grace under pressure. Taylor Harwood ’26, who represented two clients incarcerated for over 25 years, learned to carefully balance bureaucratic requirements with human empathy. “When I felt like there was more to be said about certain topics or feelings that my clients were experiencing,” Harwood explains, “I had to balance that with allowing them to experience that feeling in the moment.”

Ultimately, these intense experiences are launching compassionate, battle-tested public defenders into Oregon’s legal landscape. Both Harwood and Fernaz Mohamadi ’26 credit the Clinic for shaping their career paths toward public defense. Mohamadi, who helped secure parole for a client after more than two decades in prison, emphasizes the vital importance of the Clinic’s pro bono model: “The Clinic does not charge clients for work, and in turn, helps those who had no one else to turn to. It is incredibly important to me that zealous advocacy is not behind a paywall; those who cannot afford an attorney shouldn’t be tossed to the side.”

Nina Okawa ’26 with her Parole Project client.A Collective Effort for Reform

Beyond parole hearings, the Clinic works on a diverse array of crucial initiatives. Clinic students represent individuals seeking clemency, challenge outdated sentences and convictions based on faulty science under legislation like Oregon SB 819 and SB 1515, protect the legal rights of incarcerated youth, and conduct extensive data-driven research to push for statewide legislative reform. Whether spending hours reviewing trial records, conducting fact investigations, or interviewing clients, every participant in the Clinic contributes to a safer, more humane, and more equitable legal system.

The Path Forward

According to Kaplan, the work done within the clinic “goes well beyond lawyering fundamentals like writing, research, and interviewing. It teaches future legal professionals about humanity, complexity, and the power of a law degree to alter the course of someone’s life. By providing an unparalleled opportunity to gain real-world, high-stakes experience, the program allows advocates to step out of the classroom and directly into roles that restore freedom and dignity.”