WASHINGTON, DC, October 24, 2005 — The National Legal Aid & Defender Association (NLADA) is pleased to announce that Malcolm Young, executive director of The Sentencing Project in Washington, DC, has been chosen to receive the prestigious Charles Dorsey Award, given biennially in recognition of individuals who provide extraordinary and dedicated service to the equal justice community, and to organizations that promote expanding and improving access to justice for low-income people. Recipients of this award must demonstrate a commitment to equal justice through service as an officer, board or committee member of a national or statewide organization devoted to fulfilling the promise of equal access to justice.

"For almost 20 years, Malcolm Young has served at the helm of one of the country’s most important and critical advocacy and sentencing reform organizations in the country. His long career as a determined and devoted advocate for justice is nationally acknowledged by his peers and colleagues," said Jo-Ann Wallace, NLADA president and CEO. "Malcolm is a tireless advocate for all people facing the loss of liberty and a leader in the effort to develop alternative sentencing programs, research and advocacy on criminal justice policy.”

Young is recognized as the founder of The Sentencing Project, a nearly 20-year old organization dedicated to achieving fairness in the justice system through advocacy, sentencing reforms and effective use of services and institutions. Young’s work on behalf of justice is extraordinary. The Sentencing Project is a major resource for those involved in the justice system by providing research and analysis of issues and events occurring in the justice system. It is also an invaluable resource for reporters and producers of major media covering justice issues.

Under Young’s leadership, the Sentencing Project has provided technical assistance and helped establish alternative sentencing programs in more than 22 states and consulted on issues such as juvenile detention, racial disparity, and the trial of juveniles in adult court. The Sentencing Project has sponsored the development of the National Association of Sentencing Advocates, which recently became a section of NLADA, renamed as the National Association of Sentencing and Mitigation Specialists (NASAMS), for courtroom professionals who assist in the sentencing defense of persons charged with crimes.

In a letter of recommendation, Sharon Patrick, client services coordinator, Wisconsin Public-Defender – Appellate Division, said, “Within the organization [The Sentencing Project] Malcolm is not only an excellent sounding board for new topics from the staff but also the person who transforms topics into viable work. He develops the idea with the staff, funds funding sources and determines a way to disseminate the product. As a former staff person for the organization, I found Malcolm to be incredibly creative and approachable. He was willing to use his resources and contacts to help me achieve my goals.” Lisa Rickert, mitigation specialist and former president of NASA, also wrote in her recommendation letter, “It is no exaggeration to state that I and many other sentencing advocates and mitigation specialists have immeasurably benefited from Malcolm’s efforts. In addition, and more importantly, thousands of additional defendants are receiving quality representation because of what Malcolm helped to create.

For more information on NLADA awards, visit www.nlada.org.

# # #

The National Legal Aid & Defender Association (NLADA), founded in 1911, is the oldest and largest national, nonprofit membership organization devoting all of its resources to advocating equal access to justice for all Americans. NLADA champions effective legal assistance for people who cannot afford counsel, serves as a collective voice for both civil legal services and public defense services throughout the nation and provides a wide range of services and benefits to its individual and organizational members.