The CSU|LAW Criminal Justice Center embodies our Law School mission to “Learn Law. Live Justice.” Through a model of engaged learning, the Criminal Justice Center transforms students into legal advocates by placing them at the center of efforts to improve and reform our criminal justice system. Our Criminal Justice Center Clinics are designed to address injustices throughout the life cycle of the criminal process: by leveling the playing field at pretrial release and detention, exonerating those wrongfully convicted, and removing legal obstacles facing those released from prison.
Clinics
Pretrial Justice Clinic
At the very outset of a criminal case, disparities begin to emerge between defendants with financial resources to hire counsel and those without. Students in our Pretrial Justice Center work to reduce those disparities. Under the supervision of Professor Robert Triozzi, students assist lawyers in the Cuyahoga County Public Defender’s Office, gathering information and advocating for pretrial release for indigent clients.
Terry Gilbert Wrongful Conviction Clinic
Cuyahoga County has the tenth-most exonerations nationwide since 1989, accounting for more than one-third of all exonerations in Ohio. Students in the Wrongful Conviction Clinic, under the supervision of Director Laura Greig, work to reverse those injustices. Students review case files, conduct factual investigations, and analyze legal claims for prisoners with viable claims of actual innocence or manifest injustice.
Pardon, Clemency, and Reentry Clinic
After release from prison, individuals face countless collateral consequences that prevent them from pursuing a career, finding stable housing, or otherwise integrating back into the local community. Students in our Pardon, Clemency, and Reentry Clinic, under the supervision of Director Khalida Sims Jackson, assist clients seeking pardon or clemency through the Ohio Governor’s Expedited Pardon Program. Students also pursue record-sealing and expungement of past convictions, as well as assisting with other legal obstacles that might prevent successful reentry into the community.
Faculty and Staff
Faculty Scholarship
View the work of our faculty on the CSU Engaged Scholarship page
externships and Practicums
- Ohio Court of Appeals, 8th District
- U.S. District Court, Northern District of Ohio
- City of Cleveland Prosecutor’s Office Ohio Attorney General
- Federal Public Defender Office,
- Cuyahoga County Prosecutor’s Office
- U.S. Attorney’s Office
- U.S. Department of Homeland Security, Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
- Restorative Justice
- Post-Conviction Relief with Cuyahoga County Conviction Integrity Unit
- "Waze" for Criminal Defendants
- Cleveland Police Commission
- Cuyahoga County Bail Reform
- Ohio Criminal Rules Revision
Criminal Justice Forum Speaker Series
For more than 20 years, the Criminal Justice Forum has brought nationally and internationally prominent speakers to the law school providing our students and CLE-seeking attorneys with expansive learning and conversation. See our News and Events for latest programming.
Support our Mission
Join a community of philanthropic, individual and corporate donors who strive to ensure a fair and equitable criminal justice system for all.
Friends of the Criminal Justice Center
Donors who contribute $1,000 or more to the CSU Law Criminal Justice Center are designated as Friends of the Criminal Justice Center for one year and recognized on our website.
Become a Friend of the Criminal Justice Center
Partners in Justice
Partners in Justice receive unique benefits from the CSU|LAW Criminal Justice Center and Clinics, including:
- invitations to special Center and Clinic events, and
- recognition at all Center and Clinic events, in promotional materials, on social media, and on our website.
Donors who contribute $2,500 or more to the CSU|LAW Criminal Justice Center are designated as Partners in Justice for one year.
Champions of Justice
Champions of Justice members receive exclusive benefits from the CSU|LAW Criminal Justice Center and Clinics, including:
- invitations to private events, speaker series, and stakeholder engagement experiences,
- recognition at all Center and Clinic events, in promotional materials, on social media, and on our website, and
- members and their employees are offered a free CLE presented by the CSU|LAW Criminal Justice Center.
Donors who contribute $5,000 or more to the CSU|LAW Criminal Justice Center are appointed as Champions of Justice for one year.
Board of Advocates
As our most generous benefactors, Board of Advocates members join us as active contributors in our pursuit for criminal justice equity and reform. Board of Advocate members receive exclusive benefits from the CSU Law Criminal Justice Center and Clinics, including:
- a seat at Board of Advocates-only roundtable events with CSU community leaders and prominent criminal justice leaders,
- invitation-only events, speaker series, and stakeholder engagement experiences,
- the highest tier of recognition at all Center and Clinic events, in promotional materials, on social media, and on our website, and
- members and their employees are offered two free CLEs each year presented by the CSU|LAW Criminal Justice Center.
Donors who contribute $10,000 or more to the Clinic are appointed to our Board of Advocates for one year.
Recent Center News + Events
CSU|LAW Pardon, Clemency + Reentry Clinic Granted 5 Pardons in 2023
CSU|LAW Launches Terry Gilbert Wrongful Conviction Clinic
‘Last resort for people.’ CSU|LAW to open wrongful conviction clinic
Connect With Us
Instagram: @crim_justice_csu
Facebook: Criminal Justice Center at CSU Law
Wrongful Conviction Clinic Instagram: @csulaw.wrongful.conviction
Wrongful Conviction Clinic Facebook: CSU Wrongful Conviction Clinic