2022 NDAA Capital Conference Recap (Intern Edition).

• Author: Weston, Helen
• Position: National District Attorneys Association

The National District Attorneys Association (NDAA) had the honor of welcoming State and local prosecutors to our 2022 Capital Conference on January 24 & 25 in Washington, DC. Attendees spent their time collaborating with members of the Biden Administration, justice system advocates and Capitol Hill staff to advocate for and represent the needs of prosecutors across the country.

On Tuesday, the conference opened with lecture sessions that allowed attendees to hear about a wide range of topics and efforts from a politically-diverse group of speakers. To begin the day, our prosecutors heard from Ryan Raybould, Chief Counsel, and Franci Rooney, Counsel, from the Office of Senator John Cornyn (R-TX). Senator Cornyn serves as the Senior United States Senator from Texas and has since worked tirelessly to support law enforcement and prosecutors by working with local, state, and federal authorities to give them the legal tools and funding resources necessary to succeed at their jobs and serve their communities to their full capacity. Currently, NDAA is working alongside Senator Cornyn and his team to fulfill such goals. These initiatives include the Justice for All Reauthorization Act, the Residential Substance Abuse Treatment Act (RSAT), and the Project Safe Childhoods Reauthorization Act.

Next, attendees heard from Tom Chittum, the Acting Deputy Director of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearm and Explosives (ATF). ATF'S mission is to protect communities from alcohol, tobacco, firearm, and explosive-related crimes like the illegal use and trafficking of such items, acts of arson and bombings, acts of terrorism, and other such crimes. Acting Deputy Director Chittum informed attendees of ATF's mission and their capabilities to help prosecutors disrupt violent crime within their communities. Following the Acting Deputy Director's remarks, the topic changed quickly to student loans and prosecutor retention. Attendees met with Aoife Delargy, Vice President of Law School Engagement and Advocacy at Equal Justice Works. Aoife informed attendees on their access to educational debt forgiveness and Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF), the requirements of prosecutors and their offices to qualify for such forgiveness, and the steps that they need to take to earn forgiveness following ten years in public service. To wrap up the first half of the day, attendees heard from Greg Ehrie, Vice President of Law Enforcement and Analysis at the Anti-Defamation...