Duke University School of Law has announced a $2.5 million commitment from the Seattle-based Barton Family Foundation to help launch a criminal defense clinic.

Designed to train students to be leaders in ending mass incarceration and racial injustice, the clinic will provide students with a hands-on, experiential learning course in the practice of criminal representation. Students will be trained in scientific literacy and data analysis so they can effectively incorporate research into both their representation of individuals and policy advocacy as well as have opportunities to provide pro bono legal representation to indigent clients in local criminal cases under the supervision of practicing lawyers and clinical educators.

“Ending racialized mass incarceration will require investments and efforts across the nation and in many different types of institutions. Duke University and Duke Law School provide the ideal home for an important part of this undertaking,” said Kerry Abrams, the James B. Duke and Benjamin N. Duke dean of the law school. “With the right policy and litigation strategies, supported by research in disciplines across the university, we can begin to turn the tide on the pernicious effect of racism in our criminal legal system. We are grateful to the Barton Family Foundation for so generously supporting the training of future justice leaders.”

“America’s criminal legal system is broken. Biased and discriminatory, it also begets racial, gender, and income disparities and breeds despair,” Sarah and Richard Barton said in a statement. “Our reliance on mass incarceration has not enhanced public safety but has weakened communities by separating families and undermining mental, physical, and economic well-being. We are pleased to support a new clinic at Duke Law that will leverage the resources of the university and train future leaders in the fight against injustice.”

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