National Association for Public Defense

Social Work Meetup: Open Chat
2025-03-26 12:00 - 13:00 (America/New_York) | https://publicdefenders-us.zoom.us/j/85605681692
This week’s meetup will be an open chat – open to discuss anything! If you want to highlight one of the great sessions you caught last week at NAPD’s Rise. Resist. Represent. Conference, this is the space for that! If you have questions for the group – the space for that! If you want to bring up a topic to discuss and share – the space for that! Join the discussion where the topics, questions, ideas are driven by you!

Stephanne Cline Thornton is a West Virginia native who has worked in and around criminal defense and mitigation for more than 20 years in Georgia, Colorado, and West Virginia. She is currently the Clinical Director for the West Virginia Judicial and Lawyer Assistance Program, and owner of Transform Legal, a consultancy focused on mitigation, training, and sustainability. As a Licensed Independent Clinical Social Worker and Master Addiction Counselor, Stephanne focuses on proper assessment for and access to trauma and substance use disorder treatment to ensure the health and well-being of affected individuals. Stephanne is on the Trauma-Informed Care Network Speakers Bureau and uses that platform to call attention to the intersection of secondary traumatic stress and legal practice. She approaches her work with clients, lawyers, social workers, and mitigation specialists through a contextualized mitigation lens.

Social Worker Meetup: Caseloads and Structure of Mitigation Workers in PD Offices
2025-04-07 13:00 - 14:00 (America/New_York) | https://publicdefenders.us/event/social-worker-meetup-caseloads-and-structure-of-mitigation-workers-in-pd-offices/
On a Monday – Special Monday-Meetup! We know that every jurisdiction is different, but we are also aware there is not uniformity in how mitigation work gets done in defense based offices. This discussion will focus on who is doing the mitigation work (social workers, mitigation specialists, behavioral health workers, paralegals, etc.), where (in-office or contracted), and what the referral process and caseloads look like. We will explore and discuss different ethical models that parallel in-office versus contracted work. Join us on a special Monday edition of our meetup!
Stephanne Cline Thornton is a West Virginia native who has worked in and around criminal defense and mitigation for more than 20 years in Georgia, Colorado, and West Virginia. She is currently the Clinical Director for the West Virginia Judicial and Lawyer Assistance Program, and owner of Transform Legal, a consultancy focused on mitigation, training, and sustainability. As a Licensed Independent Clinical Social Worker and Master Addiction Counselor, Stephanne focuses on proper assessment for and access to trauma and substance use disorder treatment to ensure the health and well-being of affected individuals. Stephanne is on the Trauma-Informed Care Network Speakers Bureau and uses that platform to call attention to the intersection of secondary traumatic stress and legal practice. She approaches her work with clients, lawyers, social workers, and mitigation specialists through a contextualized mitigation lens.

Racial Justice Meetup - April edition
2025-04-08 13:00 - 14:00 (America/New_York)
Racial Justice Meetup –
It’s time for the April edition of the RACIAL JUSTICE MEETUP!
Corey Smith, NAPD’s new Wellness Resource Coordinator, will lead this month’s meetup presentation – Income Inequality and Access to Justice! In this meetup, we will explore the intersection of income inequality and access to justice in the United States, examining how historical laws and policies have disproportionately impacted vulnerable populations.
Meetup flyer, speaker bio, and Zoom link will be posted on the racial justice listserv. Not on the Racial Justice listserv? Send your request to be added to BGT, Diversity, Equity, Inclusion & Justice (DEIJ) Coordinator, at Brittanygt@publicdefenders.us.
Be sure that you don’t miss a Racial Justice Meetup (every second Tuesday of the month), add it to your calendar here.
See you soon, NAPD!

Investigator Supervisor Meetup: Open chat 2:00 ET, 1:00 CT, 12:00 MT, 11:00 PT
2025-04-09 14:00 - 15:00 (America/New_York) | https://publicdefenders.us/event/investigator-supervisor-meetup-open-chat-april-2025/
Welcome to the April edition of the supervisor investigator’s meetup, it’s an open chat with lots to cover including a special guest for Friday’s general meetup.
Please join us!
Jon

Investigator Meetup: Uncovering and challenging patterns of police misconduct
2025-04-11 14:00 - 15:00 (America/New_York) | https://publicdefenders.us/event/investigator-meetup-uncovering-and-challenging-patterns-of-police-misconduct/
Investigators play a crucial role in uncovering and challenging patterns of police misconduct. We will discuss strategies for finding police misconduct data, the impact of misconduct data on defense cases, and how investigators can leverage new technologies to uncover misconduct. This session will introduce Techtivist, a groundbreaking platform designed to assist investigators with tracking and using police misconduct records effectively.

Julie Ciccolini is the CEO of Techtivist, a software firm empowering defenders to track law enforcement misconduct. Her innovative police accountability software has prevented wrongful convictions and sparked nationwide reform. Her work at The Legal Aid Society, Human Rights Watch, and National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers, contributed to overturning 13 problematic policing laws and the largest per-person settlement for a mass arrest in history. A sought-out subject matter expert on police accountability, her work has been featured in the New York Times, Washington Post, New Yorker, NPR, and CNN.

Leadership Institute 2025
2025-04-14 10:00 - 2025-04-17 15:00 (America/New_York) | Indianapolis Government Center South, 302 W Washington St, Indianapolis, IN, 46204, United States
What to Expect:
At the Institute, leaders will work on both a Case Problem designed to tackle common challenges faced in public defense offices and have the opportunity to discuss their unique issues outside of the case problem.
See the current agenda and speakers
Small Group, Intensive Coaching:
Participants will work in small groups with expert facilitators and participants from across the nation, Facilitators will guide you through leadership models to explore the Institute Case Problem and address personal leadership challenges. This personalized, intensive coaching will help you develop solutions to both shared and individual issues.
Who Should Attend:
This training is ideal for both new and experienced leaders from all sectors of public defense—federal, state, county, contract, and assigned counsel systems. Leaders of investigators, social workers, administrators, and other public defense professionals are encouraged to attend. NAPD’s leadership trainings provide the practical tools you need to bring transformative change to your office, justice system, and community.
Leave the Institute with strategies to apply what you’ve learned, making an immediate impact when you return to your organization.
Room Block at Courtyard Indianapolis Downtown and SpringHill Indianapolis Downtown for $127 per night plus tax and fees. We have a limited number of rooms, book early to make sure you get the rate. Deadline March 24, 2025
Meals not provided. There will be beverage and snacks at the breaks.
Please review NAPD Event Policies regarding attendance and cancellations
Pricing before Feb 3, 2025 $800 NAPD Members, $950 Non Members
Pricing Feb 4 and beyond $900 NAPD Members, $1050 Non Members
Registration Deadline – March 17, 2025 (Don’t wait till the last minute – this one always sells out)
Hotel Room block with Courtyard and Spring Hill Suites for $133 plus tax and fees. Click here to book your room
Comments from past participants
“I thought the conference was great. The topics and presentations were relevant to my work and everyone who presented was a pro. They knew how to relay information in a dynamic way; they taught without being pedantic. They were funny! It’s also nice to be in a space where people are grappling with similar issues. I’ve been to trainings for managers that are meant to be helpful, but are designed for corporate offices or non-legal settings. This training was completely tailored to PD offices and NOT to corporate America.”
“This conference was very well tailored to our work and the experience I had this year compared to an earlier version of the conference was much improved! Instead of war stories, the faculty were poignant, appropriately vulnerable about their own pitfalls, and gave good practical advice for moving forward.”
“NAPD puts on a great conference. All of the plenary sessions were engaging and motivational. The addition of the small groups made the discussions at the plenary sessions come to life.”

Social Work Supervisor Discussion: Supporting Your Team
2025-04-15 13:00 - 14:00 (America/New_York) | https://publicdefenders.us/event/social-work-supervisor-discussion-supporting-your-team/
This meetup is for supervisors of social workers, mitigation specialists, sentencing advocates, dispositional advocates, social work interns, and others to come together and discuss topics relevant to supervision in defense-based offices.
Kevin Bishop, LCSW, is the Social Worker Coordinator with The OFfice of the Alternate Defense Counsel (CO).

Strategic Mitigation: Condensed and Abbreviated Versions of Mitigation
2025-04-21 13:00 - 14:00 (America/New_York) | https://publicdefenders.us/event/strategic-mitigation-condensed-and-abbreviated-versions-of-mitigation/
On a Monday – Special Monday-Meetup! When a case has a tight turnaround or in-depth mitigation development hasn’t been requested, how do you create a condensed or abbreviated version of mitigation? How do you structure your mitigation writing, or do you do something different to highlight the mitigation you have? Come to this special Monday meetup to discuss how you handle strategic mitigation that is shorter in length, condensed, or abbreviated!
Stephanne Cline Thornton is a West Virginia native who has worked in and around criminal defense and mitigation for more than 20 years in Georgia, Colorado, and West Virginia. She is currently the Clinical Director for the West Virginia Judicial and Lawyer Assistance Program, and owner of Transform Legal, a consultancy focused on mitigation, training, and sustainability. As a Licensed Independent Clinical Social Worker and Master Addiction Counselor, Stephanne focuses on proper assessment for and access to trauma and substance use disorder treatment to ensure the health and well-being of affected individuals. Stephanne is on the Trauma-Informed Care Network Speakers Bureau and uses that platform to call attention to the intersection of secondary traumatic stress and legal practice. She approaches her work with clients, lawyers, social workers, and mitigation specialists through a contextualized mitigation lens.

Dyslexia: Criminal Justice, Forensic Mental Health, and Legal Implications
2025-04-21 15:00 - 16:00 (America/New_York) | https://publicdefenders.us/event/dyslexia-criminal-justice/
Presenters: Jerrod Brown, Ph.D., M.A., M.S., M.S., M.S., and Amy Guillot, Ph.D., M.A.
Dyslexia is defined by the International Dyslexia Association as a neurological learning disability characterized by poor spelling and word recognition abilities. Consequences of these deficits often include secondary reading problems such as poor reading comprehension. A harmful domino effect can be traced from dyslexia to learning difficulties in school and several adverse outcomes across the lifespan. These adverse outcomes include criminal justice-involvement, as research reports that people entangled in the criminal justice system may be disproportionately likely to present with undiagnosed dyslexia. Although not a causal risk factor for criminal behavior, dyslexia may amplify the risk of criminal justice-involvement when co-occurring with other established risk factors (e.g., impulsive control issues, poor verbal skills, low self-esteem, social skill limitations, early language problems, and cognitive problem-solving). Intended for professionals working in criminal justice, forensic mental health, and legal settings, this innovative training provides attendees with a comprehensive overview of dyslexia, its potential causes, clinical features, and red flag indicators. Nuanced discussions of potential opportunities for prevention, management, and intervention will also be discussed. For instance, high quality academic and reading interventions could play a key role in reducing the rates of delinquency and recidivism among justice-involved populations. The principal goals of this training are to encourage the (a) routine screening of dyslexia and (b) adoption of dyslexia-informed practices and policies in criminal justice, forensic mental health, and legal systems. Empirically based research findings will be highlighted throughout this training.
Jerrod Brown, Ph.D., M.A., M.S., M.S., M.S., is a professor, trainer, researcher, and consultant with multiple years of experience teaching collegiate courses. Jerrod is also the founder and CEO of the American Institute for the Advancement of Forensic Studies (AIAFS). Jerrod has also provided consultation services to a number of caregivers, professionals, and organizations pertaining to topics related to autism spectrum disorder (ASD), fetal alcohol spectrum disorder (FASD), intellectual and developmental disabilities, confabulation, suggestibility, memory, Miranda rights comprehension issues, sleep disturbances, trauma and other life adversities, alexithymia, executive dysfunction, criminal recidivism, serious and persistent mental illness (SPMI), traumatic brain injury (TBI), and youth firesetting. Jerrod has completed four separate master’s degree programs and holds graduate certificates in Medical Biochemistry, Exercise Prescription, Neuroscience and the Law, Neuropsychology, Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), Other Health Disabilities (OHD), and Traumatic-Brain Injuries (TBI). In 2021, Jerrod completed a post-doctoral certificate in Leadership and Organizational Strategy from Walden University and a Professional Certificate in Forensic Psychology from San Diego State University Global Campus. In 2023, Jerrod completed a diabetes care and education certificate from Central Arizona College. Currently, Jerrod is pursuing his fifth master’s degree in Applied Clinical Nutrition from Northeast College of Health Sciences. Jerrod has also conducted over 300 workshops, webinars, and on-demand trainings for various organizations and professional and student audiences. Jerrod has published several articles and book chapters, and recently, co-edited the book Forensic Mental Health: A Source Guide for Professionals (Brown & Weinkauf, 2018) with Erv Weinkauf. Jerrod has also been quoted in various magazines, newspapers, and other professional outlets. Jerrod is also regularly featured on several national and international podcast programs.
Amy Guillot, Ph.D., M.A., has been a literacy education professor, researcher, and Dyslexia Therapist in the College of Education and Health Professions at the University of Houston-Victoria since 2007. Amy earned her Ph.D. in Education from the University of Missouri-Kansas City in 2003. She is the current Chair of the Teacher Education Program at UH-V and leads the faculty in transforming teacher preparation. Amy has several years of experience in public schools as an English Language Arts teacher and Reading Specialist. She received her Dyslexia Therapist certification in 2020 after a two-year intensive preparation. Amy has published and presented extensively in national, state, and local venues on topics related to literacy and teacher preparation. In addition to her role as a professor and Chair, Amy provides tutoring for students with dyslexia in her private practice. Amy has provided training for a variety of professionals and educators about the academic and mental health implications for people with dyslexia.

Kintsukuroi Sentencing
2025-04-22 12:00 - 14:00 (America/New_York) | https://publicdefenders.us/event/kintsukuroi-sentencing/
Kintsukuroi, the Japanese art of “golden repair,” involves mending broken pottery with gold, silver, or platinum, embracing the flaws as part of the object’s history rather than concealing them. This philosophy can be a powerful tool in federal criminal defense.
Applying Kintsukuroi to your practice means using the concept of embracing and highlighting your clients’ burdens, journeys and rehabilitation efforts as part of their story. It offers a fresh perspective on developing mitigation strategies, demonstrating genuine growth and commitment to compliance with pretrial conditions, and crafting compelling arguments for sentencing.
Most of our clients end up standing before a judge for sentencing. If you’d like to consider some new strategies to help them put their best foot forward, you’ll get some practical ideas and sources for this crucial aspect of your practice.
Laurie Shertz has been a criminal defense attorney for not quite 30 years, primarily concentrating her practice in federal court. She focuses on a client-centric approach to cases, ensuring clients receive the time they need to understand their case and choices fully, and to share their background and experiences to craft their best strategy in every case.

DEIJ Meetup - April Edition
2025-04-23 13:00 - 14:00 (America/New_York)
DEIJ Meetup –

We’re back! It’s time for the April edition of the DEIJ MEETUP!

Joyce Akhahenda, Esq. (she/her) will lead this month’s meetup presentation – TOUGH CONVERSATIONS. In this DEIJ meetup, we will cover why we avoid having tough conversations and how to have them.

Don’t miss this meetup! The meetup flyer, speaker bio, and Zoom link will be posted on the listserv.

Be sure that you don’t miss a DEIJ Meetup (every fourth Wednesday of the month) or our discussions by adding our calendar and joining the listserv.

See you soon, DEIJ!

Defending Noncitizens in a Time of Crisis
2025-04-28 13:00 - 15:00 (America/New_York) | https://publicdefenders.us/event/defending-noncitizens-in-a-time-of-crisis/
This webinar will provide defenders with an update on the rapidly changing landscape of immigration law. We will focus on those changes that may directly impact your clients and give you information and tools you can use in advising and advocating for those clients. Our speakers will share perspectives from sanctuary and non-sanctuary jurisdictions on issues of enforcement, protecting targeted groups, and how to zealously advocate for your noncitizen clients in these critical times.
Mx. Onyx Starrett (they/them) works as one of the criminal-immigration specialists at the Santa Barbara County Public Defender Office, where they provide advice and training to trial attorneys representing noncitizens and advocate for clients through post-conviction relief. Prior to their current position, they worked at Nassau County Public Defender Office, Brooklyn Defender Services, and Ventura County Public Defender as a crimmigration expert, giving advice to clients, negotiating with prosecutors, and representing clients before the Executive Office for Immigration Review. Additionally, Onyx initiated the Deported Veterans Project at Public Counsel in Los Angeles, California, successfully advocating for deported U.S. military veterans to return to the U.S., many as U.S. citizens.
Hena Mansori oversees the Immigration Division at the Cook County Public Defender’s office. Since joining the PD’s office in 2020, she has trained PD staff on their obligations under Padilla v. Kentucky and provided case-specific guidance regarding the immigration consequences of criminal offenses to assistant public defenders representing noncitizen clients. Hena also oversees the office’s removal defense practice, through which the office represents noncitizens facing deportation on a merits-blind model, and its crimmigration community outreach and education. Prior to joining the PD’s office, Hena worked at the National Immigrant Justice Center (NIJC) for more than 12 years, most recently as the managing attorney of NIJC’s Adult Detention Project. Hena received her Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from the University of Chicago in 2002 and her J.D. from NYU School of Law in 2006. She is licensed to practice law in the state of Illinois and lives with her husband and two kids in Chicago.
Jordan Pollock has been the Immigration Specialist at the Dallas County Public Defender’s Office since 2014. In this role, Ms. Pollock advises both public defenders and appointed attorneys of the immigration consequences of the criminal charges against non-citizen clients. Ms. Pollock provides this advice in the form of written advisals, which allow attorneys to satisfy the professional obligations outlined by the Supreme Court in Padilla v. Kentucky. These advisals further provide suggested plea deals intended to protect clients’ immigration status or possible future relief. The first of its kind in Texas, the Immigration Advisal Program at the Dallas Public Defender’s Office now serves as a model for similar programs at public defender’s offices statewide. Ms. Pollock also serves as an adjunct professor at Texas A&M Law School, where she teaches a course in “crimmigration,” and is the vice chair of the Texas Criminal Defense Lawyer’s immigration committee. Previously, Ms. Pollock was an Equal Justice Works Fellow at Public Counsel in Los Angeles, where she instituted a Legal Orientation Program at two Orange County detention centers and represented detained immigrants in removal proceedings. She received her J.D. with honors from the University of Texas School of Law and her B.A. with honors from Duke University. Before law school, Ms. Pollock was an accredited representative at the New York Legal Assistance Group, where she represented clients in affirmative immigration matters.
Matthew Vogel is a Supervising Attorney at the National Immigration Project (NIPLNG), where he works on litigation, advocacy, and training regarding immigration enforcement and detention as well as issues at the intersection of criminal law and immigration law. Matt joined NIPNLG from the Orleans Public Defenders (OPD) in New Orleans, where for several years as a staff attorney, he built OPD’s immigration practice, providing immigration consequences advising and training on the immigration consequences of criminal legal system involvement. Matt also worked on OPD’s death penalty and juvenile life without parole defense teams and carried a docket of upper-level felonies and misdemeanors. He clerked for the Honorable Keith P. Ellison of the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Texas and spent many years living and working at the New York City Catholic Worker, a house of hospitality for unhoused people. Matt graduated from Harvard University, Yale Divinity School, and Yale Law School and lives with his family in New Orleans.
Stacy Taeuber was an immigration resource attorney for the Washington Defender Association from 2021 – 2025 where she worked with defenders and other stakeholders to address the immigration consequences faced by noncitizens accused of crimes. She has over 25 years of experience as an immigrant rights advocate; she has practiced in Florida, Arizona, New York, Minnesota, and Wisconsin, and has argued cases before the Arizona and Wisconsin Supreme Courts, the Seventh Circuit, and federal district courts. She spent two years as a public defender in Arizona and was a contract defender in Wisconsin. Stacy founded the Immigrant Justice Clinic at the University of Wisconsin Law School and served as its director for four years and was a visiting clinical professor in the University of Minnesota Law School’s Federal Immigration Litigation Clinic for two years. Stacy received her B.A. in Spanish from Earlham College and her J.D. from Georgetown University Law School.

Social Work Meetup: What Trainings Do You Provide In-House?
2025-05-07 12:00 - 13:00 (America/New_York) | https://publicdefenders.us/event/social-work-meetup-2025-05-07/
Social workers, mitigation specialists, dispositional advocates, alternative sentencing specialists, and others are familiar with providing information and education on our roles. This meetup will focus specifically on the organized/structured education/information/training that you offer or facilitate or participate in your offices. What trainings do you offer in-house and to whom? How often? And what ideas or recommendations for trainings in-house would you like to pass along?
Stephanne Cline Thornton is a West Virginia native who has worked in and around criminal defense and mitigation for more than 20 years in Georgia, Colorado, and West Virginia. She is currently the Clinical Director for the West Virginia Judicial and Lawyer Assistance Program, and owner of Transform Legal, a consultancy focused on mitigation, training, and sustainability. As a Licensed Independent Clinical Social Worker and Master Addiction Counselor, Stephanne focuses on proper assessment for and access to trauma and substance use disorder treatment to ensure the health and well-being of affected individuals. Stephanne is on the Trauma-Informed Care Network Speakers Bureau and uses that platform to call attention to the intersection of secondary traumatic stress and legal practice. She approaches her work with clients, lawyers, social workers, and mitigation specialists through a contextualized mitigation lens.

Building a Mentorship Program
2025-05-08 14:00 (America/New_York) | https://publicdefenders.us/event/building-a-mentorship-program/
In this program I will walk through the process of designing and implementing a formalized mentorship program that is tailored for your agency. We will talk about the goals and benefits of the program, and how to generate buy-in. We will talk about training the mentors, pairing them with mentees, and keeping the program sustainable over time.
Gina Savoie is a Trial Division Director for the Missouri State Public Defender. In that role, she oversees public defender trial offices across the state. She has also designed and implemented a formal mentorship program for all new attorneys in MSPD. She previously served as the District Defender in the Jefferson County Public Defender’s office, and as an assistant public defender in the St. Louis City trial office.
Prior to joining MSPD, Gina clerked for Httornon. Judge Catherine Perry in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Missouri. Gina holds a J.D. from Saint Louis University School of Law, an M.F.A. in Stage Management from the University of Iowa, and a B.A. in Theatre Arts from Rutgers University. She and her husband Sean live in St. Louis County where they are raising three wild and beautiful girls.

The Question Spectrum - Improving Questioning Techniques for Witnesses, Jurors, and Others.
2025-05-09 12:00 - 14:00 (America/New_York) | https://publicdefenders.us/event/the-question-spectrum-improving-questioning-techniques-for-witnesses-jurors-and-others/
This webinar will address how to effectively question in contrasting situations. From the tightly controlled cross-examination to exploratory voir dire, we will discuss how to effectively present and retrieve information. On the one hand, painting pictures, telling stories, and maintaining control, and on the other hand, receiving valuable insights, all while avoiding the murky middle of the spectrum.
Michael L. Stout is a trial attorney practicing primarily criminal law. He has been practicing law since 1976 when he graduated from the University of New Mexico School of Law conducting both criminal and civil trials. Michael often teaches other lawyers through workshops and seminars and has been a member of the faculty of the National Criminal Defense College since 1983. He was the first Chair of the New Mexico Public Defender Commission which was created by constitutional amendment in 2012.

Investigator Supervisor Meetup: 5-14-2025- Open Chat
2025-05-14 14:00 - 15:00 (America/New_York) | https://publicdefenders.us/event/investigator-supervisor-meetup-5-14-2025-open-chat/
HI all,
Supervisors and lead investigators second Wednesday of the month is coming, so let’s chat about how things are in your offices, with your cases and clients.
Join us!
See you on Wednesday,
Jon

AI in Justice – Insights and Implications for Public Defenders
2025-05-15 14:00 - 15:00 (America/New_York) | https://publicdefenders.us/event/ai-in-justice-insights-and-implications-for-public-defenders/
Join us for an insightful webinar as we delve into the findings of the 2025 AI in Justice Survey, which gathered perspectives from nearly 400 justice professionals nationwide. This session will explore how public defenders are navigating increasing administrative and discovery workloads, their views on the integration of AI tools in legal processes, and the critical concerns surrounding accuracy, bias, and courtroom admissibility. Structured around six key findings, the discussion will shed light on the practical challenges and opportunities that AI presents in the realm of public defense. Whether you’re considering the adoption of AI technologies or assessing their impact on your practice, this webinar offers valuable, data-driven insights into the evolving landscape of justice and technology.
Brent Berkley is an internationally-recognized expert on criminal justice and the prosecutorial function. With a career spanning nearly 35 years, he has worked as a private and public defense attorney, a prosecutor at every level of state, local, and federal prosecution, and program director, advocate, educator, and consultant for prosecutors, law enforcement, and allied professionals across the globe.His expertise covers trial practice, digital evidence and legal technology, upstream crime reduction, re-entry, and increasing efficiency within the criminal justice system.Brent joined Axon in 2015 and was responsible for the creation of the Axon Justice team, working with prosecutors, defense attorneys, and courts in every state and multiple international environments. He is currently the Strategic Relationships Director for Justice customers and works with leaders in that community to modernize criminal justice practice for the 21st Century.

Justin Dilley is the Senior Director of Product at Axon, where he leads product strategy for emerging markets, focusing on innovative technologies that enhance public safety and justice systems. With over 17 years of experience in product and technical roles, Justin has a proven track record of building and leading global product management teams in both B2C and B2B environments. Prior to joining Axon in April 2024, he held senior leadership positions at companies such as Tropic, Loopio, FullStory, The Home Depot, and Amazon, where he was instrumental in launching successful products and driving significant revenue growth. Justin holds an MBA from Northwestern University’s Kellogg School of Management and a BS in Computer Information Systems from Indiana University’s Kelley School of Business.

NAPD Changemakers Forum
2025-05-19 12:00 - 2025-05-22 12:00 (America/New_York) | Sheraton Inner Harbor Hotel,, Sheraton Inner Harbor Hotel, 300 South Charles Street, Baltimore, MD, 21201, United States
May 19 (noon start) – May 22 (1 pm end time), 2025
Apply Here – Deadline April 14th. We will make selections by April 16.
$750 registration fee. We have a few scholarships available. Please let us know in the application if you would need assistance and what level.
Audience – This event is open to innovators and leaders of all types. We are looking for a wide variety of experiences in public defense through our application process. If this event sounds like something you’d like to be a part of – you are someone we are looking for. Please apply to join us.
The National Association for Public Defense (NAPD) cordially invites innovators and leaders in public defense to our strategic leadership Forum. This event will provide a platform to discuss and address the most pressing challenges facing the field of public defense today, such as workloads, retention, independence, and other key issues defined in the ABA’s newly revised 10 principles.
We’ve reinvented the conventional institute format to create an interactive, collaborative experience. While we’ll still host a few critical plenaries, we’re excited to introduce two fresh formats.

Spark Presentations: Engage with thought leaders as they share their insights and innovative ideas in 5-10 minute, impactful talks. This is your chance to hear directly from those in the trenches about strategies and solutions they have found effective.
Open Space Sessions: A participatory and organic approach where attendees are invited to brainstorm and create actionable plans for the issues they are most passionate about. These sessions will foster dynamic discussions and collaboration, promoting a creative exchange of ideas that will inform and inspire.

Strategic Action Planning and Expert Consultations:
To ensure that the insights gained don’t merely remain theoretical, the forum will also include guidance from experts to assist in crafting executable plans. Attendees will not only gain knowledge but will leave with well-defined, actionable strategies, bridging the divide between conceptual understanding and real-world applicability. This holistic approach guarantees that our Forum isn’t just another conference—it’s a launchpad for effective and meaningful initiatives in public defense.
Registration and Cost
In an effort to democratize participation, we kindly ask all attendees to cover their own registration and travel costs. This approach enables us to focus our resources on providing a high-quality event and generating maximum value for all participants.
Nevertheless, we remain committed to inclusivity and ensuring that all who wish to participate have the opportunity. For this reason, we are pleased to offer scholarships for individuals who wish to present a Spark presentation or who may not be able to afford to attend..
The NAPD Changemakers Forum is more than an event – it is an opportunity for leaders in public defense to come together to confront our greatest challenges, foster collaboration, and drive meaningful change. We look forward to your participation and to shaping the future of public defense together.
There is discounted self-parking at the hotel.
See the agenda
From last year’s participants –
“It’s a leap of faith to go to a conference with just an outline of an agenda, but it worked, it flowed and it has been my favorite conference!”
“I felt fully embraced by the group – was able to be vulnerable and share challenges – in a place of safe support. I got so many ideas to bring home and felt inspired to bring more to my leadership role.”
‘This was a special gathering of just the right people, in the right context. Everyone fully bought in to the concept and participated fully and that made all the difference in the world.”
“I was very skeptical going in, but converted to a full believer in this format by the time the week ended.”
“The connections and bonding that came out of the conference were just as important as the session topics and ideas. It was a good length of time to allow those bonds to form, and also to allow for deep exploration of the topics. The networking event on Thursday evening was a great way to wrap the week.”

A Neurocriminological and Nutritional Neuroscience Exploration of the “Twinkie Defense”: A Look Back and Lessons Learned
2025-05-19 13:00 - 14:00 (America/New_York) | https://publicdefenders.us/event/a-neurocriminological-and-nutritional-neuroscience-exploration-of-the-twinkie-defense/
In The People v. White (1979), Dan White’s legal team employed a legal strategy that has since become widely known as the “Twinkie Defense.” Specifically, his lawyers argued that White’s diet, which included an over-reliance on unhealthy foods, contributed to White’s diminished capacity at the time of the crime. White was ultimately found guilty of voluntary manslaughter instead of first-degree murder. In the decades since The People v. White, research has reported correlational evidence that links unhealthy foods (e.g., fatty and sugary foods) to problematic behaviors like delinquency, aggression, and crime. In this innovative training, attendees will explore critical questions about the role of nutrition in problematic behaviors. This will include a retrospective analysis of the case, examinations of how diet may be linked to crime, careful consideration of myths and controversies, and explorations of potential implications for interventions. Other topics discussed in this training include Western diet, cognition, emotional dysregulation, impulsive behaviors, mental health conditions, hormonal dysfunction, gut dysbiosis, central nervous system dysfunction, blood sugar dysregulation, nutritional deficiencies, junk food, excessive sugar consumption, biological despair, HPA axis dysregulation, inflammation, and sleep disturbances to name a few. Peer-reviewed research from nutritional neuroscience and neurocriminology will be highlighted throughout this training.
Training Objectives:
• Provide a critical overview of the “Twinkie Defense”
• Develop a working knowledge of neurocriminology and nutritional neuroscience research findings
• Compare and contrast the characteristics of healthy and unhealthy diets and their implications for mood, behavior, cognition, and physical health
• Explore the role of nutrition in problematic behaviors
• Discuss how diet-focused interventions could decrease the risk of future behavioral problems
Jerrod Brown, Ph.D., M.A., M.S., M.S., M.S., is a professor, trainer, researcher, and consultant with multiple years of experience teaching collegiate courses. Jerrod is also the founder and CEO of the American Institute for the Advancement of Forensic Studies (AIAFS). Jerrod has also provided consultation services to a number of caregivers, professionals, and organizations pertaining to topics related to autism spectrum disorder (ASD), fetal alcohol spectrum disorder (FASD), intellectual and developmental disabilities, confabulation, suggestibility, memory, Miranda rights comprehension issues, sleep disturbances, trauma and other life adversities, alexithymia, executive dysfunction, criminal recidivism, serious and persistent mental illness (SPMI), traumatic brain injury (TBI), and youth firesetting. Jerrod has completed four separate master’s degree programs and holds graduate certificates in Medical Biochemistry, Exercise Prescription, Neuroscience and the Law, Neuropsychology, Dyslexia, Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), Other Health Disabilities (OHD), and Traumatic-Brain Injuries (TBI). In 2021, Jerrod completed a post-doctoral certificate in Leadership and Organizational Strategy from Walden University and a Professional Certificate in Forensic Psychology from San Diego State University Global Campus. In 2023, Jerrod completed a diabetes care and education certificate from Central Arizona College. Currently, Jerrod is pursuing his fifth master’s degree in Applied Clinical Nutrition from Northeast College of Health Sciences. Jerrod has also conducted over 300 workshops, webinars, and on-demand trainings for various organizations and professional and student audiences. Jerrod has published several articles and book chapters, and recently, co-edited the book Forensic Mental Health: A Source Guide for Professionals (Brown & Weinkauf, 2018) with Erv Weinkauf. Jerrod has also been quoted in various magazines, newspapers, and other professional outlets. Jerrod is also regularly featured on several national and international podcast programs.

Social Work Meetup: Workflows, with Aisling Jennings
2025-05-21 12:00 - 13:00 (America/New_York) | https://publicdefenders.us/event/social-work-meetup-2025-05-21/
Workflows can be an impactful visualization of a process, a road map, and a way to identify bottlenecks, system failures, and breaks in support. This tool can make underused and complex processes accessible- especially when the process has little to no framework to start with. Developing workflows is a collaborative effort; the best workflows are usable by all members of a team, regardless of role. Workflows are intended to evolve over time as we identify issues in the system and improve on the process.

The Mental Health Sentencing Alternative in Washington State is incredibly underused for a variety of reasons. There is not a codified process (unlike other sentencing alternatives) and my office struggled to get buy in with probation officers and service providers. Because of the lack of clear pathways, attorneys were hesitant to use the MHSA. Through trial and error, our office worked with our health department (WCHCS) to build framework for the process. This year, our office has been meeting with other jurisdictions to share what is working or not working and why in our respective systems. While the MHSA process still has a long way to go, the workflows are a significant step towards a more accessible alternative.

Come learn about this specific workflow development and discuss how to extrapolate out the development of workflows to address the bottlenecks in your office!

Aisling Jennings is a Behavioral Health Specialist in Whatcom County, Washington. She works on mitigation, sentencing alternatives, therapeutic court admissions, and client support on both felony and misdemeanor cases.

An Exploration of AANHPI Month, DEI, & Public Defense
2025-05-28 13:00 - 14:30 (America/New_York) | https://publicdefenders.us/event/an-exploration-of-aanhpi-month-dei-public-defense/
The DEIJ and Racial Justice Meetups are happy to present its May 2025 webinar in honor of AANHPI Heritage Month. This presentation aims to raise awareness, foster cultural understanding, and explore ways to improve fairness in the public defense system for AANHPI groups.
Arlene Anderson is a Trainer with the Office of the Public Defender in Maricopa County, Arizona. She holds a Bachelor of Science in Criminology and Criminal Justice, Magna Cum Laude, and a Master’s in Criminology from Arizona State University. Arlene is recognized for her expertise in creating dynamic and impactful trainings for all levels of staff. Beyond her organization, Arlene extends her knowledge and passion for learning to a broader audience.

Arlene is no stranger to NAPD and has been a speaker at various conferences and the DEIJ Meetup. She also is a member of the Racial Justice+ Committee and was a Get Rooted Roundtable Lead at the 2024 Racial Justice Conference. Arlene also currently serves on the Board of Directors for NAPD.

Arlene brings a unique blend of expertise, enthusiasm, and empathy as a presenter, making her a highly sought-after speaker and facilitator in her field.

Litigating Racism: Incorporating Race into Legal Arguments
2025-05-30 12:00 - 14:00 (America/New_York) | https://publicdefenders.us/event/litigating-racism-incorporating-race-into-legal-arguments/
Litigating Racism is a workshop that educates participants on the intersection of race and the criminal system. Advocates will be given the historical context of racialized oppression in the American criminal legal system. Understanding the historical context of racism will frame the lens through which each participant should analyze each phase of the criminal legal process and each actor in the criminal legal system (i.e., prosecutor, police, probation officer).
For example, participants will be educated on police militarization and the occupation of police forces in black and brown communities. This information will then help frame how defenders should review criminal complaints and argue for their client’s release or when they argue motions during suppression hearings. Understanding the history of police occupation will help defenders reframe the narrative from “high crime neighborhood” to “highly policed community.”
This workshop does not only serve to educate and inform but also to teach practical skills. It is not enough to simply acknowledge racism in the context of the criminal legal system. Attorneys must argue that the system is racist. But how do you do that? This workshop examines how defenders can apply those principles in a practical way. Participants will learn how they can make arguments that incorporate race in their bail review hearings, suppression hearings, and trials.
Bethany Bonsu is a zealous public defender who has been practicing criminal defense for four years. Ms. Bonsu started her legal career at the New York County Defender Services, where she represented hundreds of adults facing misdemeanor charges in Manhattan. She has since been a public defender in D.C. at the Public Defender Service for the District of Columbia, where she represented juveniles faced with the most serious felonies and now Prince George’s County, Maryland, representing adults charged with felonies. Ms. Bonsu is also the 2024 recipient of the New Leaders in Advocacy Award presented by the National Legal Aid and Defender Association.Prior to her time as a public defender, Ms. Bonsu was a law clerk at various national civil rights offices such as the ACLU, DOJ, and NAACP Legal Defense Fund, to name a few. It was her time at those offices and her time at the New York County Defender Services, where Ms. Bonsu was taught how to incorporate race into legal arguments. Since becoming a public defender, Ms. Bonsu has incorporated race into nearly every aspect of her client’s criminal cases. Challenging issues such as police bias, excessive force, racial profiling, and predatory police practices during interrogations. Ms. Bonsu received her law degree from the University of Houston Law Center and her bachelor’s degree from Texas A&M University.

Investigator Meetup: Inside the system from two perspectives - 5/30/2025- 2:00 ET, 1:00 CT, 12:00 MT, 11:00 PT
2025-05-30 14:00 - 15:00 (America/New_York) | https://publicdefenders.us/event/investigator-meetup-inside-the-system-from-two-perspectives/
Inside the System pulls back the curtain on the justice system—taught by someone who’s worked both sides. Everything from arrests to courtroom battles, real insight every future law enforcer or advocate needs.
Dyllan Leonard is a former police officer and current public defender investigator with over a decade of frontline justice experience. His unique dual perspective fuels a mission to educate, challenge, and inspire future justice professionals.

NAPD The Clarence Darrow/David Baldus Death Penalty College & Intellectual Disability Track
2025-06-03 10:00 - 2025-06-06 13:00 (America/Chicago) | Iowa City Law School, 130 Byington Rd, Iowa City, IA, 52242, United States
June 3-6, 2025. Starting at 10 am on the 3rd and ending at 1 pm on the 6th.
Pricing before April 1, 2024 $950 NAPD Members, $1050 Non Members
Pricing April 2 and beyond $1150 NAPD Members, $1300 Non Members
Registration Deadline May 16th
See the current draft program with the agenda and confirmed speakers
Room Block at Hyatt Place Iowa City Downtown/University Hotel $110 plus taxes and fees / May 13 deadline
Reservation Booking Link: https://www.hyatt.com/en-US/group-booking/IOWZI/G-DABA
Phone Reservations: call the Central Reservations Office at: 1-800-233-1234 and reference the NAPD June 2025 Darrow Baldus College Conference or Group Code: G-DABA

Participants spend the week working on their own pending cases as well as learning from some of the most prestigious capital defense trainers in the country. Each day, participants engage in various learning activities, including small group sessions, lectures, role playing, and strategy demonstrations for guilt/innocence and penalty phases.
Small group sessions are designed to provide constructive feedback and encouragement while also brainstorming the case and doing actual case preparation for the capital trial. These sessions are followed by lectures and demonstrations for small
er groups or plenary sessions for all participants. Evenings are primarily unscheduled, allowing participants to explore all that Iowa City has to offer.
This unique training offers participants the choice of two intensive tracks:

The Traditional Track: Teams work collaboratively on their own pending cases, focusing on the mitigation strategy for both the guilt/innocence and penalty phases of a capital trial. Solo practitioners without an active case are also welcome to attend. This track includes small group sessions that provide constructive feedback, brainstorming, and hands-on case preparation, supplemented by lectures, role-playing, and strategy demonstrations.
The Intellectual Disability (ID) Track: Designed for those seeking advanced training on investigating and litigating intellectual disability claims, this track equips defense teams with the tools needed to ensure no one with intellectual disability is executed. Participants will delve into the nuances of identifying and presenting evidence of ID, guided by experts in law, psychology, and mitigation. This track is geared toward intermediate and experienced practitioners but welcomes beginners seeking to develop these essential skills.

The program is held in honor of the late Professor David Baldus, whose thorough, groundbreaking capital punishment research significantly impacted the death penalty defense community and legal community as a whole. Professor Baldus is best known for “the Baldus study,” cited by the United States Supreme Court in McCleskey v. Kemp, although his research extends far beyond.
Intensive Intellectual Disability Track
Intellectual disability is an absolute bar to the death penalty, making this a necessary area of investigation in every capital case. There are no exceptions.
This intensive training introduces participants to the nuances of investigating and litigating intellectual disability claims and features strategies for overcoming common barriers to identifying and effectively presenting evidence of ID. This course is geared towards intermediate and experienced capital practitioners. Beginners are welcome to attend, but the material is advanced.
It is our mission to ensure that no one with intellectual disability is ever executed. We are dedicated to equipping all members of the defense team with the tools needed to discover, investigate, and effectively litigate intellectual disability.
Intellectual disability can be difficult to detect. Often, clients go to great lengths to hide their disability due to shame and embarrassment, even when it can save their life. Unlike common stereotypes, those with intellectual disability cannot be identified based on their appearance or superficial interactions. Clients may appear “normal” in the context of school, work, family or when we first encounter them as the defendant in a capital prosecution. Education is crucial to overcome these stereotypes.
This training will offer the most up-to-date legal and scientific information concerning ID and provide hands-on opportunities to practice skills needed to screen effectively for ID. Students will learn how to work with mental-health experts and how to develop and provide the detailed life-history information needed for an effective evaluation. Instructors will include psychologists, lawyers, and mitigation specialists who are experts on the subject.
Comments from past participants –
Without question this was the best conference / educational trainings I have ever attended. The quality of the experts and the access that we had to them was unprecedented in my experience. The small group sessions were so helpful. I also love that this is not designed to be a one and done event. The opportunity to return and continue to work on cases is really helpful.
The ID conference played a major role in my ability to formulate a compelling, fact based motion as to my client’s ID issues and adaptive functioning deficits. It was also beneficial to be able to explain the various IQ tests, how they work, what they test for and how the Flynn Effect impacts standardized testing. I was able to compare and contrast those issues with the State and reach and the outcome of death being taken off the table.
OUTSTANDING! Lifechanging information and access to experts
I have been to many Capital trainings. this one has been one of the best for getting useful information relevant and applicable to our cases.
These were, by far, the most professional, relevant and motivating training sessions I have ever been a part of. My practice has already improved greatly, and I feel that I have tools I need as I transition into a capital practice.
Great location. I loved the student hosts. I felt this training was for people serious about the work and not just interested in traveling to a conference. Great opportunity to hear from experts and to gain insight from more experienced lawyers.
This
was an INCREDIBLE conference. Every expert, attorney speaker, leader of our small groups, etc. brought so much knowledge, insight, and experience. It was packed with content–I filled up an entire notebook and sent daily emails reporting back to the team I was working on with information and to-dos immediately applicable to cases.

Need help with this registration process? Watch this video.
NAPD Events and Cancellation Policy
By registering for this training, I am affirming that today I am neither a prosecutor, nor attending this training with the purpose of aiding the prosecution of any criminally accused. I further affirm that I am dedicated to the ideals of the criminal defense practitioner, and am committed to the causes of effective and zealous defense of those charged with crimes, the protection and assertion of constitutional rights afforded the criminally accused, and the recognition and preservation of human dignity of those charged with crimes. I further affirm that my use of the information provided by this training will not be used by me in any manner which would impugn the above set out ideals.

Social Work Meetup: Learn About Video Mitigation with Isacha Sandy
2025-06-04 12:00 - 13:00 (America/New_York) | https://publicdefenders.us/event/social-work-meetup-learn-about-video-mitigation-with-isacha-sandy/
At this week’s meetup, Forensic Social Worker Isacha Sandy will share how she has created video mitigation in an accessible, budget-friendly way to help humanize clients facing legal systems. This session will explore core principles of effective storytelling, ethical considerations, and creative strategies for working within limited resources. Isacha will highlight the use of video in sentencing advocacy, family reunification, and trauma-informed casework, offering insight into how these tools can amplify client voice and context.

Attendees will leave with a better understanding of how to produce compelling video content using accessible tools—no advanced technical background required.
Join us to see what cool things she has done and learn how to do it yourself!

Isacha Sandy is a Forensic Social Worker with the Alameda County Public Defender

Racial Justice Meetup - June Edition
2025-06-10 12:00 - 13:00 (America/New_York)
Racial Justice Advocates,
It’s time for another RACIAL JUSTICE MEETUP of 2025!

Guy Lang, our Justice-Impacted Communities Coordinator, will lead us in a Men’s Mental Health Awareness Month edition of the Advocating While Black: The Experiences and Perspectives of Black Men In Public Defense© presentation.
It’s going to be good. Don’t miss this meetup! Meetup flyer and agenda, as well as the speaker bio, will be posted on the listserv.

Not on the Racial Justice listserv? Send your request to be added to BGT, DEIJ Coordinator, at Brittanygt@publicdefenders.us.
See you soon, DEIJ!

Investigator Supervisor Meetup: 06-11-2025- Open Chat
2025-06-11 14:00 - 15:00 (America/New_York) | https://publicdefenders.us/event/investigator-supervisor-meetup-06-11-2025-open-chat/

Social Work Supervisors Discussion Meetup
2025-06-12 14:00 - 15:00 (America/New_York) | https://publicdefenders.us/event/social-work-supervisors-discussion-meetup-2-pm-est-1-pm-cst-12-pm-mst-11-am-pst/
Social Work Supervisors Discussion – now monthly on Thursday at 2 PM EST/1 PM CST/12 PM MST/11 AM PST!
This month’s Social Work Supervisors Discussion meetup is on the topic of having difficult conversations, giving feedback that inspires growth, and how to develop and improve morale overall in the face of less-than-ideal circumstances. This discussion is for supervisors of social workers, mitigation specialists, social work interns, and others being supervised in similar roles in defense-based offices.

Anosognosia: A Primary Reason for Treatment Noncompliance, Medication Refusal, Substance Misuse, and Other Problematic Outcomes
2025-06-16 13:00 - 14:00 (America/New_York) | https://publicdefenders.us/event/anosognosia-a-primary-reason-for-treatment-noncompliance/
Anosognosia is a complex condition where a person genuinely lacks awareness or insight of the fact that they suffer from a disability, disease, or disorder. This lack of insight or awareness can extend to deficits that involve executive function, emotions, language skills, judgement, motor skill ability, and memory. Anosognosia is distinct from denial, as the symptoms of the person’s condition may limit or prevent thought processes that would enable the conscious choice of denial. Anosognosia has been observed among those with a history of traumatic brain injuries, structural brain lesion, neurodegenerative disorders, schizophrenia and other serious mental health disorders, and strokes. The consequences of Anosognosia can contribute to (a) treatment completion issues (b) higher relapse rates (c) medication noncompliance (d) poorer psychosocial functioning (e) anger, aggression, and violence (f) criminal justice involvement (g) homelessness, and (h) increased utilization of crisis support services. Intended for professionals, this training will examine the definitions, symptoms, causes, and consequences associated with Anosognosia and its implications for justice-involved individuals. Tips, strategies, and solutions will also be discussed. Empirically based research findings will be highlighted throughout this training.
Jerrod Brown, Ph.D., M.A., M.S., M.S., M.S., is a professor, trainer, researcher, and consultant with multiple years of experience teaching collegiate courses. Jerrod is also the founder and CEO of the American Institute for the Advancement of Forensic Studies (AIAFS). Jerrod has also provided consultation services to a number of caregivers, professionals, and organizations pertaining to topics related to autism spectrum disorder (ASD), fetal alcohol spectrum disorder (FASD), intellectual and developmental disabilities, confabulation, suggestibility, memory, Miranda rights comprehension issues, sleep disturbances, trauma and other life adversities, alexithymia, executive dysfunction, criminal recidivism, serious and persistent mental illness (SPMI), traumatic brain injury (TBI), and youth firesetting. Jerrod has completed four separate master’s degree programs and holds graduate certificates in Medical Biochemistry, Exercise Prescription, Neuroscience and the Law, Neuropsychology, Dyslexia, Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), Other Health Disabilities (OHD), and Traumatic-Brain Injuries (TBI). In 2021, Jerrod completed a post-doctoral certificate in Leadership and Organizational Strategy from Walden University and a Professional Certificate in Forensic Psychology from San Diego State University Global Campus. In 2023, Jerrod completed a diabetes care and education certificate from Central Arizona College. Currently, Jerrod is pursuing his fifth master’s degree in Applied Clinical Nutrition from Northeast College of Health Sciences. Jerrod has also conducted over 300 workshops, webinars, and on-demand trainings for various organizations and professional and student audiences. Jerrod has published several articles and book chapters, and recently, co-edited the book Forensic Mental Health: A Source Guide for Professionals (Brown & Weinkauf, 2018) with Erv Weinkauf. Jerrod has also been quoted in various magazines, newspapers, and other professional outlets. Jerrod is also regularly featured on several national and international podcast programs.

Social Worker Meetup: Keeping Mitigation Themes Compelling
2025-06-18 12:00 - 13:00 (America/New_York) | https://publicdefenders.us/event/swmeetup-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 work meetup will look at themes we use and themes Meixner says are most compelling, and we will talk about how to keep these themes fresh, innovative, and compelling each time. How do we create different narratives if we are using (seeing) the same themes? What do we do to not feel like our writing is in a rut? This will be a good discussion to get us all thinking innovatively and creatively!
Stephanne Cline Thornton is a West Virginia native who has worked in and around criminal defense and mitigation for more than 20 years in Georgia, Colorado, and West Virginia. She is currently the Clinical Director for the West Virginia Judicial and Lawyer Assistance Program, and owner of Transform Legal, a consultancy focused on mitigation, training, and sustainability. As a Licensed Independent Clinical Social Worker and Master Addiction Counselor, Stephanne focuses on proper assessment for and access to trauma and substance use disorder treatment to ensure the health and well-being of affected individuals. Stephanne is on the Trauma-Informed Care Network Speakers Bureau and uses that platform to call attention to the intersection of secondary traumatic stress and legal practice. She approaches her work with clients, lawyers, social workers, and mitigation specialists through a contextualized mitigation lens.
