ABA President-Elect Promotes Criminal Justice Reforms that Save States Money and Ensure Public Safety

WASHINGTON, D.C., May 25, 2011 — American Bar Association President-Elect Wm. T. (Bill) Robinson III will join U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder and others at the National Symposium on Pretrial Justice May 31 – June 1. Robinson’s remarks will focus on reforming state criminal justice systems, especially pretrial justice, in ways that save money, reduce recidivism and preserve public safety.

The symposium will gather experts in criminal justice, including representatives from law enforcement, defense, prosecution, the Department of Justice, the judiciary and stakeholder organizations. After a review of the 1964 National Conference on Bail and Criminal Justice and discussion of bail reform policies over the last 50 years, experts will provide analyses of what has worked, and what reforms may be beneficial going forward. The event is sponsored by the U.S. Department of Justice’s Office of Justice Programs with support from the nonprofit Pretrial Justice Institute.

What
National Symposium on Pretrial Justice

When
May 31 – June 1Robinson will deliver opening remarks at approximately 1 p.m. on May 31
Event starts at 1 p.m. on May 31 and continues through 5 p.m. on June 1

Where
Renaissance Washington, DC, Downtown Hotel
999 Ninth St., N.W., Washington, D.C.

For media credentialing, please contact Ira Pilchen at 312-988-5743 or ira.pilchen@americanbar.org. There is no charge for media covering this event.

With nearly 400,000 members, the American Bar Association is the largest voluntary professional membership organization in the world.  As the national voice of the legal profession, the ABA works to improve the administration of justice, promotes programs that assist lawyers and judges in their work, accredits law schools, provides continuing legal education, and works to build public understanding around the world of the importance of the rule of law.

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