{"id":303,"date":"2019-03-13T15:43:55","date_gmt":"2019-03-13T19:43:55","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.law.georgetown.edu\/icap\/?page_id=303"},"modified":"2025-08-07T14:42:33","modified_gmt":"2025-08-07T18:42:33","slug":"reforming-criminal-justice","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.law.georgetown.edu\/icap\/our-work\/reforming-criminal-justice\/","title":{"rendered":"Reforming Policing and Criminal Justice"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>ICAP represents plaintiffs across <a href=\"https:\/\/www.law.georgetown.edu\/icap\/our-work\/pursuing-criminal-justice-reform\/graff-v-aberdeen-enterprizes-ii-inc\/\">Oklahoma<\/a> subject to an unlawful statewide scheme to fund the court system and other public services by extorting, arresting, and jailing poor people due to exorbitant fees resulting from traffic, misdemeanor, and felony offenses; plaintiffs in <a href=\"https:\/\/www.law.georgetown.edu\/icap\/our-work\/police-and-criminal-justice-reform\/torres-v-collins\/\">Hamblen County, Tennessee<\/a> in a class-action suit demanding an end to cash bail systems that systematically jail presumptively innocent people solely because they are impoverished; and plaintiffs challenging the pretrial detention system in <a href=\"https:\/\/www.law.georgetown.edu\/icap\/our-work\/reforming-criminal-justice\/frazier-v-prince-georges-county\/\">Prince George\u2019s County, Maryland,<\/a> that allows the jail to decide who is incarcerated prior to trial. ICAP also represents an incarcerated individual who is <a href=\"https:\/\/www.law.georgetown.edu\/icap\/our-work\/reforming-criminal-justice\/silva-v-united-states\/\">suing a federal prison guard who assaulted him when he was in restraints<\/a>.\u00a0 We also represented a wrongly convicted man who successfully held the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.law.georgetown.edu\/icap\/our-work\/police-and-criminal-justice-reform\/potts-v-baltimore-city-police-department\/\">Baltimore<\/a> City Police Department liable for officer misconduct, as well as a prisoner challenging the state of <a href=\"https:\/\/www.law.georgetown.edu\/icap\/our-work\/police-and-criminal-justice-reform\/mckinney-v-arizona\/\">Arizona<\/a>\u2019s approach to imposing the death penalty.<\/p>\n<h2>Our Work<\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li>7\/28\/25 &#8211; Received a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.law.georgetown.edu\/icap\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/32\/2025\/07\/Rohrer-MTD-Decision.pdf\">decision<\/a> from the U.S. District Court for the Western District of North Carolina adopting the Magistrate Judge&#8217;s Memorandum and Recommendation and denying Defendants&#8217; motion to dismiss in substantial part in <a href=\"https:\/\/www.law.georgetown.edu\/icap\/our-work\/reforming-criminal-justice\/rohrer-v-city-of-gastonia\/\">Rohrer v. City of Gastonia<\/a><\/li>\n<li>7\/2\/25 \u2013 Filed a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.law.georgetown.edu\/icap\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/32\/2025\/07\/PG-County-Petition-for-Panel-Rehearing.pdf\">petition for panel rehearing<\/a> in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit in <a href=\"https:\/\/www.law.georgetown.edu\/icap\/our-work\/reforming-criminal-justice\/frazier-v-prince-georges-county\/\"><em>Frazier v. Prince George&#8217;s County<\/em><\/a><\/li>\n<li>6\/18\/25 &#8211; Received a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.law.georgetown.edu\/icap\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/32\/2025\/07\/PG-County-Appeal.pdf\">decision<\/a>\u00a0from the Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals vacating and reversing parts of the district court&#8217;s decision in <a href=\"https:\/\/www.law.georgetown.edu\/icap\/our-work\/reforming-criminal-justice\/frazier-v-prince-georges-county\/\"><em>Frazier v. Prince George&#8217;s County<\/em><\/a> and remanding the case back to the district court<\/li>\n<li>2\/13\/25 &#8211; Obtained an <a href=\"https:\/\/www.law.georgetown.edu\/icap\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/32\/2025\/02\/Hamblen-County-Order.pdf\">order<\/a> in <a href=\"https:\/\/www.law.georgetown.edu\/icap\/our-work\/reforming-criminal-justice\/torres-v-collins\/\">Torres v. Collins<\/a> granting motion to amend judgment and issuing a declaratory judgment against all defendants<\/li>\n<li>11\/9\/23 \u2013 Filed an\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.law.georgetown.edu\/icap\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/32\/2023\/11\/Torres-MSJ-Opposition-FILED.pdf\">opposition<\/a>\u00a0to Defendants\u2019 second renewed motion for summary judgment in the District of New Mexico in\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.law.georgetown.edu\/icap\/our-work\/reforming-criminal-justice\/torres-v-madrid\/\">Torres v. Madrid<\/a><\/li>\n<li>10\/23\/23 &#8211; Filed a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.law.georgetown.edu\/icap\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/32\/2023\/10\/Rohrer-MTD-Opp.pdf\">brief in opposition<\/a> to defendants&#8217; motion to dismiss in <a href=\"https:\/\/www.law.georgetown.edu\/icap\/our-work\/reforming-criminal-justice\/rohrer-v-city-of-gastonia\/\">Rohrer v. City of Gastonia<\/a><\/li>\n<li>3\/15\/23 &#8211; Sent a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.law.georgetown.edu\/icap\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/32\/2023\/03\/Letter-on-MS-Rule-Change-Final.pdf\">letter<\/a> to the Mississippi Supreme Court&#8217;s Rules Committee on Criminal Practice and Procedure on behalf of former federal prosecutors urging adoption of a<span class=\"gmail_default\"> rule change that would provide defense counsel to indigent defendants in the period between initial appearance and indictment<\/span><\/li>\n<li>8\/26\/22 &#8211; Filed a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.law.georgetown.edu\/icap\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/32\/2022\/08\/Brown-Amicus-2022.08.26-FIN.pdf\" aria-label=\"brief urging the Supreme Court to to reverse the death sentence of David Brown after Louisiana failed to disclose a statement directly implicating two other people, but not Brown, in the murder of a prison guard.\">brief<\/a> urging the Supreme Court to to reverse the death sentence of David Brown after Louisiana failed to disclose a statement directly implicating two other people, but not Brown, in the murder of a prison guard<\/li>\n<li>3\/11\/22 &#8211; Filed a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.law.georgetown.edu\/icap\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/32\/2022\/03\/Perry-brief-filed.pdf\" aria-label=\"brief in the First Circuit challenging Massachusetts\u2019 improper use of solitary confinement\">brief<\/a> in the First Circuit challenging Massachusetts\u2019 improper use of solitary confinement<\/li>\n<li>2\/17\/22 &#8211; Sent a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.law.georgetown.edu\/icap\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/32\/2022\/02\/Letter-re-Juvenile-Life-Without-Parole-in-the-Federal-System-2.17.22.pdf\" aria-label=\"letter to the Department of Justice requesting a limit to its pursuit of life sentences for juvenile offenders and the creation of a committee to review all potential juvenile life sentences\">letter<\/a> to the Department of Justice requesting a limit to its pursuit of life sentences for juvenile offenders and the creation of a committee to review all potential juvenile life sentences<\/li>\n<li>2\/15\/22 &#8211; Filed a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.law.georgetown.edu\/icap\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/32\/2022\/02\/Hope-v-Harris-amicus_2.15-FINAL.pdf\" aria-label=\"brief urging the Supreme Court to review a challenge to Texas\u2019s improper use of solitary confinement\">brief<\/a> urging the Supreme Court to review a challenge to Texas\u2019s improper use of solitary confinement<\/li>\n<li>6\/11\/21 &#8211; Filed a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.law.georgetown.edu\/icap\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/32\/2021\/06\/Thompson-Merits-Amicus-FIN-6-11-21.pdf\" aria-label=\"brief in the Supreme Court challenging a rule applied in the majority of circuits that thwarts a federal constitutional claim of unlawful seizure pursuant to legal process (also known as malicious prosecution) when the plaintiff's underlying criminal case was dismissed before trial unless the plaintiff can establish that the dismissal showed \">brief<\/a> in the Supreme Court challenging a rule applied in the majority of circuits that thwarts a federal constitutional claim of unlawful seizure pursuant to legal process (also known as malicious prosecution) when the plaintiff&#8217;s underlying criminal case was dismissed before trial unless the plaintiff can establish that the dismissal showed \u201caffirmative indications of innocence.\u201d<\/li>\n<li>6\/8\/21 &#8211; Filed a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.law.georgetown.edu\/icap\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/32\/2021\/06\/Blake-9th-Cir.-Amicus-Brief-ECF-stamped-6-8-2021.pdf\" aria-label=\"brief in the Ninth Circuit on behalf of the Fines and Fees Justice Center challenging the the city of Grants Pass, Oregon's approach to fines as a violation of the Eighth Amendment\">brief<\/a> in the Ninth Circuit on behalf of the Fines and Fees Justice Center challenging the the city of Grants Pass, Oregon\u2019s approach to fines as a violation of the Eighth Amendment<\/li>\n<li>4\/6\/21 &#8211; Filed a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.law.georgetown.edu\/icap\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/32\/2021\/04\/Amicus-Letter-SJ-2021-0129.pdf\">letter<\/a> urging the Massachusetts Supreme Court to order an investigation into police misconduct in Springfield, Massachusetts<\/li>\n<li>2\/5\/21 &#8211; Filed a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.law.georgetown.edu\/icap\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/32\/2021\/02\/2021.02.05-Seattle-v.-Long-Amicus-Brief-FILED.pdf\" aria-label=\"brief in the Washington Supreme Court challenging Seattle's approach to fines as a violation of the Eighth Amendment\">brief<\/a> in the Washington Supreme Court challenging Seattle&#8217;s approach to fines as a violation of the Eighth Amendment<\/li>\n<li>1\/4\/21 &#8211; Filed a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.law.georgetown.edu\/icap\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/32\/2021\/01\/Thompson-brief.pdf\" aria-label=\"brief urging the Supreme Court to review a rule applied in the majority of circuits that thwarts a federal constitutional claim of unlawful seizure pursuant to legal process (also known as malicious prosecution) when the plaintiff's underlying criminal case was dismissed before trial unless the plaintiff can establish that the dismissal showed affirmative indications of innocence.\">brief<\/a> urging the Supreme Court to review a rule applied in the majority of circuits that thwarts a federal constitutional claim of unlawful seizure pursuant to legal process (also known as malicious prosecution) when the plaintiff&#8217;s underlying criminal case was dismissed before trial unless the plaintiff can establish that the dismissal showed \u201caffirmative indications of innocence.\u201d<\/li>\n<li>9\/28\/20 \u2013 Filed a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.law.georgetown.edu\/icap\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/32\/2020\/09\/Hope-amicus-ECF-stamped.pdf\" aria-label=\"brief in the Eighth Circuit challenging Arkansas's improper use of solitary confinement\">brief<\/a> in the Fifth Circuit challenging Texas\u2019s improper use of solitary confinement<\/li>\n<li>6\/12\/20 &#8211; Filed a a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.law.georgetown.edu\/icap\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/32\/2020\/06\/Brett-Jones-Amicus.pdf\" aria-label=\"brief in the Supreme Court challenging Mississippi's juvenile life without parole sentencing practices\">brief<\/a> in the Supreme Court challenging Mississippi\u2019s juvenile life without parole sentencing practices<\/li>\n<li>1\/17\/20 &#8211; Filed a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.law.georgetown.edu\/icap\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/32\/2020\/01\/Jones-DeSantis-Amicus-Brief.pdf\" aria-label=\"brief in the Eleventh Circuit challenging Florida's disenfranchisement of those unable to pay criminal court debt\">brief<\/a> in the Eleventh Circuit challenging Florida\u2019s disenfranchisement of those unable to pay criminal court debt<\/li>\n<li>10\/23\/19 &#8211; Filed a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.law.georgetown.edu\/icap\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/32\/2019\/10\/Hamner-Brief.pdf\" aria-label=\"brief in the Eighth Circuit challenging Arkansas's improper use of solitary confinement\">brief<\/a> in the Eighth Circuit challenging Arkansas\u2019s improper use of solitary confinement<\/li>\n<li>8\/27\/19 &#8211; Filed a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.law.georgetown.edu\/icap\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/32\/2019\/08\/Malvo-Amicus-Brief.pdf\" aria-label=\"brief in the Supreme Court challenging Virginia's juvenile life without parole sentencing practices\">brief<\/a> in the Supreme Court challenging Virginia\u2019s juvenile life without parole sentencing practices<\/li>\n<li>7\/5\/19 &#8211; Filed a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.law.georgetown.edu\/icap\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/32\/2019\/07\/Singleton-Brief.pdf\" aria-label=\"brief in the Fifth Circuit decrying prosecutorial misconduct\">brief<\/a> in the Fifth Circuit decrying prosecutorial misconduct<\/li>\n<li>2\/7\/19 &#8211; Filed a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.law.georgetown.edu\/icap\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/32\/2019\/02\/Hester-brief.pdf\" aria-label=\"brief in the Eleventh Circuit challenging Cullman County, Alabama\u2019s approach to cash bail as an Equal Protection violation\">brief<\/a>\u00a0in the Eleventh Circuit challenging Cullman County, Alabama\u2019s approach to cash bail as an Equal Protection violation<\/li>\n<li>1\/30\/19 &#8211; Filed a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.law.georgetown.edu\/icap\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/32\/2019\/01\/Daves-v.-Dallas-brief.pdf\" aria-label=\"brief in the Fifth Circuit challenging Dallas County\u2019s approach to cash bail as an Equal Protection violation\">brief<\/a>\u00a0in the Fifth Circuit challenging Dallas County\u2019s approach to cash bail as an Equal Protection violation<\/li>\n<li>1\/22\/19 &#8211; Filed a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.law.georgetown.edu\/icap\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/32\/2019\/01\/Richey-Amicus-Brief-.pdf\" aria-label=\"brief in the Missouri Supreme Court challenging the imposition of jail board fees on indigent defendants\">brief<\/a>\u00a0in the Missouri Supreme Court challenging the imposition of jail board fees on indigent defendants<\/li>\n<li>10\/9\/18 &#8211; Filed a <a href=\"https:\/\/fairandjustprosecution.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/Humphrey-Amicus-Brief-FINAL.pdf\" aria-label=\"brief in the California Supreme Court challenging the practice of cash bail as a violation of the Fourteenth Amendment\">brief<\/a>\u00a0in the California Supreme Court challenging the practice of cash bail as a violation of the Fourteenth Amendment<\/li>\n<li>9\/21\/18 &#8211; Wrote an <a href=\"https:\/\/www.wsj.com\/articles\/what-punishment-is-cruel-and-unusual-for-a-crime-committed-at-17-1537567051\" aria-label=\"op-ed explaining why a clear finding of\u00a0\u201csuch irretrievable depravity that rehabilitation is impossible\u201d\u00a0is a prerequisite to imposing life without parole on juveniles\">op-ed<\/a>\u00a0explaining why a clear finding of\u00a0\u201csuch irretrievable depravity that rehabilitation is impossible\u201d\u00a0is a prerequisite to imposing life without parole on juveniles<\/li>\n<li>9\/14\/18 &#8211; Filed a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.law.georgetown.edu\/icap\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/32\/2018\/09\/Chandler-brief.pdf\" aria-label=\"brief urging the Supreme Court to review the improper sentencing of a Mississippi juvenile to life without parole\">brief<\/a>\u00a0urging the Supreme Court to review the improper sentencing of a Mississippi juvenile to life without parole<\/li>\n<li>8\/30\/18 &#8211; Filed a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.law.georgetown.edu\/icap\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/32\/2018\/09\/Manning-Brief-as-filed.pdf\" aria-label=\"brief on behalf of the National Law Center on Homelessness &amp; Poverty challenging Virginia\u2019s practice of imprisoning the homeless for possession of alcohol\">brief<\/a> in the Fourth Circuit on behalf of the National Law Center on Homelessness &amp; Poverty challenging Virginia\u2019s practice of imprisoning the homeless for possession of alcohol<\/li>\n<li>5\/22\/18 &#8211; Wrote an <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonpost.com\/news\/posteverything\/wp\/2018\/05\/22\/how-mistakes-by-state-and-local-prosecutors-can-lead-to-unfair-trials\/\" aria-label=\"op-ed explaining how suppression of evidence by prosecutors leads to unfair trials\">op-ed<\/a>\u00a0explaining how suppression of evidence by prosecutors leads to unfair trials<\/li>\n<li>4\/5\/18 &#8211; Filed a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.law.georgetown.edu\/icap\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/32\/2018\/04\/williams-brief.pdf\" aria-label=\"brief urging the Supreme Court to review a Louisiana murder conviction after prosecutors failed to disclose key information\">brief<\/a>\u00a0urging the Supreme Court to review a Louisiana murder conviction after prosecutors failed to disclose key information<\/li>\n<li>12\/5\/17 &#8211; Filed a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.law.georgetown.edu\/icap\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/32\/2018\/05\/sfpd-buffin-amicus-brief.pdf\" aria-label=\"brief on behalf of the San Francisco Public Defender\u2019s Office challenging San Francisco\u2019s wealth-based approach to pretrial detention\">brief<\/a>\u00a0on behalf of the San Francisco Public Defender\u2019s Office challenging San Francisco\u2019s wealth-based approach to pretrial detention<\/li>\n<li>11\/20\/17 &#8211; Filed a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.law.georgetown.edu\/icap\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/32\/2018\/02\/calhoun-brief.pdf\" aria-label=\"brief on behalf of current and former prosecutors challenging the City of Calhoun\u2019s approach to cash bail as an Equal Protection violation\">brief<\/a>\u00a0on behalf of current and former prosecutors challenging the City of Calhoun\u2019s approach to cash bail as an Equal Protection violation<\/li>\n<li>9\/15\/17 &#8211; Filed a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.law.georgetown.edu\/icap\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/32\/2018\/02\/Hidalgo-Brief.pdf\" aria-label=\"brief on behalf of the Fair Punishment Project urging the Supreme Court to consider a constitutional challenge to capital punishment in light of the emerging national consensus against the death penalty\">brief<\/a>\u00a0on behalf of the Fair Punishment Project urging the Supreme Court to consider a constitutional challenge to capital punishment in light of the emerging national consensus against the death penalty<\/li>\n<li>8\/8\/17 &#8211; Filed a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.law.georgetown.edu\/icap\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/32\/2018\/03\/brief.pdf\" aria-label=\"brief on behalf of 67 current and former prosecutors challenging Harris County\u2019s approach to cash bail as an Equal Protection violation\">brief<\/a>\u00a0on behalf of 67 current and former prosecutors challenging Harris County\u2019s approach to cash bail as an Equal Protection violation<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>ICAP represents plaintiffs across Oklahoma subject to an unlawful statewide scheme to fund the court system and other public services by extorting, arresting, and jailing poor people due to exorbitant [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":100,"featured_media":0,"parent":38,"menu_order":9,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_price":"","_stock":"","_tribe_ticket_header":"","_tribe_default_ticket_provider":"","_tribe_ticket_capacity":"0","_ticket_start_date":"","_ticket_end_date":"","_tribe_ticket_show_description":"","_tribe_ticket_show_not_going":false,"_tribe_ticket_use_global_stock":"","_tribe_ticket_global_stock_level":"","_global_stock_mode":"","_global_stock_cap":"","_tribe_rsvp_for_event":"","_tribe_ticket_going_count":"","_tribe_ticket_not_going_count":"","_tribe_tickets_list":"[]","_tribe_ticket_has_attendee_info_fields":false,"footnotes":"","_tec_slr_enabled":"","_tec_slr_layout":""},"class_list":["post-303","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"acf":[],"ticketed":false,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.law.georgetown.edu\/icap\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/303","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.law.georgetown.edu\/icap\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.law.georgetown.edu\/icap\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.law.georgetown.edu\/icap\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/100"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.law.georgetown.edu\/icap\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=303"}],"version-history":[{"count":10,"href":"https:\/\/www.law.georgetown.edu\/icap\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/303\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":5218,"href":"https:\/\/www.law.georgetown.edu\/icap\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/303\/revisions\/5218"}],"up":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.law.georgetown.edu\/icap\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/38"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.law.georgetown.edu\/icap\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=303"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}