There will be a Special Commission Meeting August 18th at 8:00 AM. View the Commission Meetings page for details.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, SADO offices are closed and SADO staff is working from home. We are still receiving and processing mail weekly. All of our mail is being redirected to our Lansing office. For the foreseeable future, please address all letters to our Lansing office at: 200 N Washington Sq, Suite 250, Lansing, MI 48913. Clients or others who need to contact us can continue to call 313-256-9833 and use the directory to dial extensions by name.

Top Stories

SADO's Statement on Racial Injustice

As public defenders, we regularly witness subtle and express racism at every level of the criminal legal system. From initial contact with police, to prosecutorial charging decisions, to plea “deals”, to the presumption of guilt, to increased punishment, to treatment in confinement, to returning home—the whole system is fraught with racial inequities. Read More.


COVID-19 Pleadings and Resources for Attorneys and Advocates

During the COVID-19 pandemic, it is important for the defender community to advocate for the release of incarcerated individuals. Keeping people unnecessarily incarcerated dangers public health and safety. SADO has created and gathered sample pleadings, information, and resources here. This page will be continually updated. Read More.


2019 Excellence in Advocacy Awards Presented

The Michigan Appellate Defender Commission presented the 2019 Norris Thomas Award for Excellence in Appellate Advocacy to former SADO Assistant Defender  and presented the 2019 Barbara R. Levine Award for Excellence in Appellate Advocacy to MAACS’s John Zevalking. Read more


Project Reentry Publishes Newsletter for Returning Citizens

The Drum: Articles, Stories, and Resources for the JLWOP Community

The June 2020 issue of The Drum is now available. The Drum is a publication, produced by SADO’s Project Reentry, featuring articles by and for former juvenile lifers returning to the community. The Drum also identifies a wide variety of resources for returning citizens, including financial budgeting, employment opportunities, and community tips. This month's issue features an article by Intern Asha Burns on the The Racial Pandemic, tributes to Ahmaud Arbery, Breonna Taylor, and George Floyd, news and resources for impacted individuals, and more! Read More


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This project was funded by the Byrne JAG grant #2010-DJ-BX-0003, awarded by the Bureau of Justice Assistance, Office of Justice Programs, U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ), and administered by the Michigan state Police (MSP). Points of view or opinions contained within this document do not necessarily represent the official position or policies of the MSP or DOJ.