Behavioral Health Specialist

Screening clients for mental illness, substance use disorders, potential risk of harm and risk factors. Works with attorneys to create strategies that optimize defendant’s ability to comply with all legal requirements and court orders. Consults with attorneys regarding clinical assessments/opinions, interpret […]

Antiracist Expert Evidence: An Exploration of Racism

Antiracist Expert Evidence: An Exploration of Racism & Its Relevance in Criminal Defense Litigation Demonstrating the influence of racism is vital to the practice of criminal defense, yet many attorneys do not know how to prove racism in court. Visiting […]

Social Worker Supervisor Discussion: Hiring & Coaching

When the team works well together and is a good fit, the work gets done effectively and successfully, fulfilling all team members. How do we hire the right staff and coach to their strengths and to the strengths of the […]

Social Work Meetup: New Things to Share About!

Similar to our past “brag fest” meetups, this meetup is your opportunity to share new mitigation strategies you’ve tried, new work products, interesting client meeting questions, innovative ways you have advocated, manuals or guides you have created, new initiatives, and […]

Holistic Defense Advocate

We are currently accepting applications to fill two vacancies for the position of Holistic Defense Advocate (Social Service Worker, Senior job classification) in Santa Barbara for the Public Defender’s Office.   We are also establishing one employment list for future vacancies in the Public Defender’s Office. Please select the locations you […]

Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs): A Call on Clinical Behavioral Health

Adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) (e.g., household dysfunction, abuse, neglect, witnessing violence in the home or community) are traumatic events occurring prior to the age of 18 and are related to long-term negative cognitive, developmental, behavioral, social, and physical health outcomes. […]

Social Workers Meetup: Community Engagement and Community Resources

This meetup will discuss the broad spectrum of community engagement and community resources: two sides of the same coin. Community resources are critical for an underserved client population in need of resources, especially when they have gone without having this […]

Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) and the Criminal Justice System: A Neurocriminological Perspective

Traumatic brain injuries (TBIs) occur when brain function is disrupted by an external force, such as a blow to the head. Common causes of TBIs include sports collisions, traffic accidents, falls, and physical assaults. TBIs are associated with an increased […]

First 1,000 Days of Life and Implications for Future Health and Behavioral Outcomes: A Neurocriminological and Nutritional Neuroscience Perspective

The first 1,000 days refers to a child’s life from day one of conception until the age of 2. This is a unique period of opportunity when the foundations of ideal neurodevelopment, growth, and health are established. Problematic and traumatic […]

Social Worker Meetup: Keeping Mitigation Themes Compelling

We have talked in the past about mitigation themes and also referred to the John B. Meixner, Jr. article, “Modern Sentencing Mitigation” that includes an analysis of the most compelling themes with the best outcomes in federal sentencing. This social […]