CARITAS CLEMENCY CLINIC
草榴社区 Law鈥檚 Caritas Clemency Clinic听aims to increase access to justice for indigent incarcerated听individuals while building essential lawyering skills in students.
One of only a few of its kind in the nation, the Caritas Clemency Clinic was created in response to the First Step Act, a bipartisan bill passed in 2018 that made significant changes to federal compassionate release. The Act expanded the eligibility criteria for determining whether an incarcerated individual has an 鈥渆xtraordinary and compelling reason鈥 which warrants release to their family, including clients who have severe health issues, are elderly and in serious deterioration or due to the death of their child鈥檚 caregiver. Certain federal circuits also found that changes in federal sentencing law, and how they contrast to the excessive sentences given to different clients for the same conduct, are extraordinary and compelling reasons for early release. Additionally, the bill now allows Bureau of Prison (BOP) detainees to request their release directly to the court, while previously only the BOP warden could bring a motion for compassionate release.
草榴社区 Law students will work together under the supervision of faculty to represent incarcerated individuals from across the country seeking compassionate release from prison听to their families and communities pursuant to the First Step Act. Students will earn academic credit while serving as their clients鈥 primary advocates. They will interview and counsel their clients and their clients鈥 families, collect records, work with experts and professionals within their clients鈥 communities, create release plans, write a motion and file it in federal court, and possibly argue the motion before a judge.听
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SKILLS DEVELOPED
- Client Interviewing and Counseling
- Attorney/Client Relationship Management
- Case Planning
- Fact Investigation
- Legal Research
- Legal Writing
- Preparing and Arguing a Motion
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鈥淢ass incarceration is such a critical issue in our society today, and the Clemency Clinic is a way we can work towards helping people on an individual level. The clinical efforts at 草榴社区 Law offer students a real opportunity to make an impactful difference.鈥
鈥擪atie Kovalsky 鈥24
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If you have questions about the clinics please contact the clinic office. Your inquiry will be directed to the appropriate clinic.
草榴社区
Charles Widger School of Law
Clinical Program
299 N. Spring Mill Road
草榴社区, PA 19085
Caritas Clemency Clinic Director: Anton Robinson, Associate Professor
