Washington, DC (Oct. 21, 2026) – The Deason Criminal Justice Reform Center was presented with the National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers’ (NACDL) Champion of State Criminal Justice Reform Award at NACDL's 25th Annual State Criminal Justice Network (SCJN) Conference. The award recognizes an individual or group whose tremendous efforts have led to progressive reform of a state criminal legal system.
Founded in 2017, the Deason Center at SMU Dedman School of Law is the country’s only academic research center focused on the Sixth Amendment right to counsel. The Deason Center launched the Day One Campaign, which works to guarantee a first appearance within 24 hours of arrest, a lawyer’s help before and during that appearance, and continuous representation until the case is resolved. With the Deason Center’s strategic advocacy and support, the Mississippi legislature appropriated almost $700,000 to fund the first year of a public defense pilot office in the state. That was the first substantial state investment in trial-level public defense in Mississippi history. Six months later, the Center was instrumental again, securing an additional $600,000 to fund a second year of the office. The campaign has also helped achieve Day One reforms in North Dakota, Kansas, Texas, and Arkansas.
"The Day One Campaign is a national campaign that, at its heart, believes that every arrested person deserves to have a lawyer representing them with 24 hours after arrest and every day thereafter until their case is disposed," said Deason Center Executive Director Pamela Metzger. "This would not have happened without our supporters and our partners, who include public defenders, assigned counsel, and impacted communities all across this country."
"The Deason team is strategic, deeply thoughtful, and remarkably well connected; the people I call when I need a read on public defense policy nationally, and on Mississippi, that I can’t get anywhere else," said Scott Hechinger, Founder and Executive Director of Zealous. "They’ve talked me through more than one decision ... They’re kind. And they have the particular humor that public defenders develop and never lose."
"The Deason Center partnered with the Mississippi Office of the State Public Defender (OSPD) to demonstrate that it is possible to deliver a robust defense in rural Mississippi – and deliver it on Day One," said Mississippi State Public Defender André de Gruy.
Learn more about the Champion of State Criminal Justice Reform Award and view past recipients.
