National Association for Public Defense

First 1,000 Days of Life and Implications for Future Health and Behavioral Outcomes: A Neurocriminological and Nutritional Neuroscience Perspective
2025-07-29 12:00 - 13:00 (America/New_York) | https://publicdefenders.us/event/first-1000-days/
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 experiences during the first 1,000 days can have a lifelong effect on health and well-being, including increased risk of future engagement in concerning and problematic behaviors. Targeted interventions during this period may play a vital role in reducing problematic behavioral, emotional, psychological, social, cognitive, and physical health outcomes throughout the lifespan. This training introduces professionals to the research that supports the first 1,000 days of life, examines problematic factors and experiences that may occur during this critical stage of development, and implications for future adverse health outcomes and problematic behaviors. Implications for intake, screening, intervention, management, and prevention will be discussed throughout this training. Insights from the fields of neurocriminology and nutritional neuroscience will be incorporated throughout. Empirically based research findings are 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 is also the founder and co-editor-in-chief of Forensic Scholars Today (FST). 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, sleep disturbances, serious and persistent mental health disorders, trauma and other life adversities, alexithymia, executive dysfunction, criminal recidivism, 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, Dyslexia, 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 also holds a wide range of professional certifications and has completed several comprehensive training programs. 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 previously 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 and has appeared in two documentaries related to the topic of FASD. Jerrod is also regularly featured on several national and international podcast programs.

A Conversation Between Lori James and Cessie Alfonso
2025-07-30 12:00 - 13:00 (America/New_York) | https://publicdefenders.us/event/a-conversation-between-lori-james-and-cessie-alfonso/
Lori James is the Executive Director of the National Association for Public Defense, a social worker and mitigation specialist, who started her career as a social work intern under Cessie Alfonso’s supervision. Lori has served as mitigation specialist in many high profile cases where her work resulted in a positive outcome for her clients. Cessie Alfonso is a forensic social worker and long-time advocate opposing the death penalty who has had her papers archived at Schlesinger Library on the History of Women in America, at Harvard Radcliffe Institute. These two amazing powerhouses of public defense will have a conversation that is a do not miss event!
Lori James, LCSW-C is a dynamic leader, educator, and clinician with over 25 years of experience in clinical practice, training, organizational development, and leadership. She earned her Master’s Degree in Clinical Social Work from the University of Maryland School of Social Work and her B.A. in Social Work from Morgan State University. Lori is currently pursuing a Doctorate in Social Work at Tulane University School of Social Work, deepening her lifelong commitment to transformative leadership and justice-centered practice.

Lori’s expansive career includes program development, program management, collegiate instruction, and leadership and management training. She has served as faculty at several universities and has been a sought-after trainer and consultant in national and regional leadership, communication, and team-building programs. Previously, she was a part-time Clinical Professor in the Department of Family Studies and Community Development at Towson University.

Lori formerly served as the Director of Leadership and Program Development at the Maryland Office of the Public Defender, an agency with over 800 employees statewide. In that role, she led the agency’s social work division—including staff, consultants, and interns—and was instrumental in developing internal leadership and team development initiatives that fostered growth, collaboration, and mission-alignment across the organization. Lori is also a certified John Maxwell Coach, Speaker, Trainer, and Facilitator, bringing a values-based approach to her work in both justice and nonprofit systems.

A published author and respected thought leader, Lori has received numerous accolades, including being named one of Maryland’s Top 100 Women by The Daily Record—first in 2015 and again in May 2025, in recognition of her continued excellence and impact.

Cessie Alfonso is a forensic social worker, domestic violence prevention and responder, and organizational development consultant and activist. The founder and president of Alfonso Consultants, Inc. which provides psychosocial assessments to clients of civil and criminal attorneys throughout the United States and abroad, she trained and worked as a social worker and has collaborated with civil and criminal defense attorneys nationally and internationally for more than three decades to provide psychosocial assessments and other social work support to their clients. During the course of her work, she and her colleagues have undertaken more than one thousand mitigation investigations.

Since 1986 Cessie has consulted on over 700 capital cases, often testifying as an expert in the penalty phase of those cases. A first-generation Caribbean American, Alfonso has conducted mitigation investigations in Cuba, Columbia, El Salvador, and Puerto Rico, and regularly leads training sessions on domestic violence, cultural competency, among other topics. Alfonso attended Montefiore School of Practical Nursing (LPN 1965), Hood College (BA 1973), and Rutgers Graduate School of Social Work (MSW 1977). A member of the Combahee River Collective, she is an activist who marched against the Vietnam War, for civil rights, and women, lesbian, and gay rights. In 2008 she was recognized by Governor Jon S. Corzine of New Jersey as a leading mitigation specialist who significantly contributed to the abolition of the death penalty in the state. In 2017 she was part of the Truth Commission on Poverty in New York State, organized by the Labor-Religion Coalition of New York State.

The Power of Stories in Justice
2025-08-04 14:00 - 15:00 (America/New_York) | https://publicdefenders.us/event/the-power-of-stories-in-justice/
This webinar is an introduction to the techniques Michael Ahn uses in his work consulting litigants on the use for story in our cases.
Humans use stories to make choices and justify actions. This is especially true in criminal justice cases, where participants – especially jurors – undoubtedly rely on stereotypes and unconscious bias as they hear arguments and testimony, and review evidence. These powerful story dynamics impact the outcome of the case.

How are cases and trials like a story?
How can you structure your case like a story?
What is the “epiphany” and why is it so powerful?
What kinds of bias do jurors tend to have?

Michael Ahn is a trial narrative consultant who helps public defenders and social workers use story techniques in mitigation and trials. Since 2016, Michael has consulted on hundreds of cases, with an 80% success rate, including acquittals on five trials where the client was facing a life sentence.

Defending While Drowning: The Urgent Need for Self-Care in Public Defense Investigation
2025-08-08 14:00 - 15:00 (America/New_York) | https://publicdefenders.us/event/defending-while-drowning/
Public Defender Investigators are the quiet backbone of the justice system—relentlessly seeking truth, advocating for fairness, and shouldering the emotional weight of other people’s crises. But what happens when the people doing this critical work are overwhelmed, burned out, or emotionally depleted? This presentation confronts the reality many investigators face: the feeling of drowning while still trying to defend. We’ll explore the psychological and physical toll this demanding role can take, the professional and personal consequences of neglecting self-care, and practical, accessible strategies for protecting your well-being. This is not about adding more to your plate—it’s about learning how to stay afloat, stay effective, and stay human in a system that too often forgets the humanity of its helpers.
Sharronda Wheat, J.D. is a Public Defender Investigator II at the Office of the Public Defender in Contra Costa County. A proud Bay Area native born and raised in Oakland, California, Sharronda brings deep regional insight and a steadfast commitment to justice to her work. She holds a Juris Doctor from John F. Kennedy University, College of Law, along with a Certificate in Mediation from The Congress of Neutrals. Sharronda also earned a Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice Administration, with an emphasis in Corrections and a minor in Sociology, from California State University, East Bay. With a strong foundation in law, investigation, and conflict resolution, she is dedicated to serving her community and advocating for equity within the criminal justice system.

Investigator Meetup for Supervisors - Work/Life balance
2025-08-13 14:00 - 15:00 (America/New_York) | https://publicdefenders.us/event/investigator-meetup-for-supervisors-2025-08-13/
While we have our usual grind of caseload, managing others and a home life, let’s talk about the balancing of these parts of our lives. Come join us for finding how best to accomplish this daily feat for ourselves and our teammates. Looking forward to you being part of this conversation.

Unseeing the Prosecution's Case
2025-08-14 14:00 - 15:00 (America/New_York) | https://publicdefenders.us/event/unseeing-the-prosecutions-case/
In this presentation we will discuss the way to approach developing a defense from the beginning of your representation of your client. You will learn how to move past the Discovery and expand the information you have to lay the groundwork to developing a proper theory of defense. We will discuss strategies to control the evidence which is presented to the Jury so the Facts of the Case are those which best support your Theory of Defense.
Andre Vitale (Jersey City, NJ). Andre has served as a public defense lawyer for over 25 years as a trial lawyer, training director, educator, and mentor. He currently works as the First Assistant Deputy Public Defender with the Essex Trial Region of the New Jersey Office of the Public Defender. Andre previously served as a Special Assistant Public Defender and Training Director with the Monroe County Public Defender’s Office (Rochester, NY) and as the Assistant Training Director with the King County Department of Public Defense (Seattle, WA). Andre has extensive trial experience taking more than 100 cases to verdict, while handling some of the most complex matters. He has developed an expertise in defending homicide and sex cases, with a proficiency in contesting forensic and other technical evidence, including DNA, fingerprints, CSAAS, and eyewitness identification. Andre authored an article: Fighting Racial Prejudice through Suppression Litigation, which was published in July 2021 edition of the CHAMPION

Defender Wellness Collective
2025-08-14 14:00 - 15:00 (America/New_York) | https://publicdefenders.us/event/defender-wellness-collective/
Following the initial meet up we will now have an open discussion about the NAPD 10 principles of sustainability and how they show up in our work spaces.
Join us for a discussion of the wellness and sustainability in the public defense workspace facilitated by the NAPD Wellbeing Resource Coordinator; Corey Dewayne Smith

Unpacking the Impact of Microaggressions Within Public Defense: An Ethics and Policy-Driven Approach
2025-08-19 13:00 - 15:00 (America/New_York)
Microaggressions are rooted in implicit bias and adversely impact the work we do for our clients and with our colleagues. While microaggressions seem elusive to some, their impact is felt by many.
Join the Public Defender Association of Pennsylvania (PDAP) and National Association for Public Defense (NAPD) on Tuesday, August 19, 2025 from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. (EST) for a virtual training event to discuss the impact of microaggressions and their ethical implications.
Using real-life examples, trainers Brittney M. Williams and Charles Fox, Jr. will lead a solution-based conversation around (1) how to recognize microaggressions and (2) ways to both ethically and effectively respond to them. Improve yourself and your office culture by participating in this timely and impactful training.
Don’t miss this special training! REGISTER TODAY!
NAPD registration inquiries, contact BGT, Esq., DEIJ Coordinator.

Important Notes:

All attendees will receive a certificate of attendance to use for your professional development file or to apply for CLE or CEU credit!
Note: You will receive the Zoom link 30 minutes before the webinar begins on 8/19/25
Registration will close 1 hour prior to the start of the webinar (noon EST).
DISCLAIMER: By registering and purchasing a ticket for this webinar, you, as the registrant, understand that the webinar link grants access to you only. Registrants are prohibited from sharing the webinar link with others or broadcasting it on a public platform. If webinar access is needed for multiple participants, each person must register and purchase their own ticket.

About the Presenters
CHARLES FOX, JR. (he/him) is the Director of Diversity & Development for the Legal Aid Society of Suffolk County, Inc. Since assuming this role in 2019, he has developed training, inclusive programs, CLE’s and strategies in recruitment/ hiring to promote client centered equity within and outside of the organization. His work is concentrated on facilitating critical conversations focused on innovative approaches to fostering impactful diversity in the public defense/criminal legal space and the importance of fostering an inclusive and equitable environment as well as addressing lingering disparities and unconscious bias in the criminal justice system.
He has presented at conferences hosted by such organizations as The National Association for Public Defense, The Color of Excellence®, The Federal Defenders, The Chief Defenders Association of New York, The Nassau County Courts, The Nassau County District Attorney’s Office, The Suffolk Academy of Law, The Amistad Black Bar Association, and more. Mr. Fox was appointed to the Suffolk County Equal Justice in the Courts Committee in 2022.
Prior to working at the Legal Aid Society of Suffolk County, Inc., he worked for The Economic Opportunity Council of Suffolk County for over a decade. Mr. Fox Began his career working for SNAP Long Island. He received an associate’s degree in international studies/business from Suffolk Community College in 2003, and a bachelor’s degree in political science & Africana Studies from Stony Brook University in 2005. He went on to earn a master’s degree in public policy in 2011, also at Stony Brook. Charles has spent more than two decades immersed in not for profit/community work.
Charles is a married father of two. He enjoys spending time with his family, traveling, sports, film/theater, reading, writing, and landscaping.
Charles is a well-known and respected voice in NAPD’s DEIJ space. He’s led multiple DEIJ Meetups, and led both a breakout session and Get Rooted Roundtable at NAPD’s Racial Justice Conference. He continues to serve as a member of NAPD’s Racial Justice+ Committee.

BRITTNEY M. WILLIAMS (she/her) is a licensed clinical social worker, and leads the Advocacy, Intervention, & Mitigation Division (AIM) at the Washtenaw County Public Defender’s Office. Her work with AIM largely centers on mitigation, and utilizes storytelling and evidence-based research to present clients in a way which compels consideration of their full life experiences.
Brittney is especially passionate about advocating for the needs of people of color, LGBTQ+ individuals, older adults, and those living with mental illness. She is a two-time alumna of the University of Michigan, where she studied sociology and social work, and is currently pursuing a PhD in social work at Wayne State University. Brittney is an avid reader, a true crime junkie, and a proud member of Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Incorporated.
Brittney is a sought after speaker with the National Association for Public Defense. She is a member of its Racial Justice+ Committee and had led the Racial Justice Meetup. Additionally, Brittney has led breakout sessions and Get Rooted Roundtables at NAPD’s Racial Justice Conference, she has co-lead a plenary session as well.

Social Worker Meetup: The International Legal Foundation Social Work Fellows
2025-08-20 12:00 - 13:00 (America/New_York) | https://publicdefenders.us/event/the-international-legal-foundation-social-work-fellows/
This social worker (mitigation specialist, sentencing advocate, dispositional specialist, etc.) meetup will give us an opportunity to learn more about the work of The International Legal Foundation and the role of social work fellows performing international work. Megan Karnes will be joining from The International Legal Foundation and talking about the opportunities through the fellows program. More details on this below!
The International Legal Foundation (ILF) is offering an in-person opportunity for social workers to support the development of holistic, rights-based legal aid in Myanmar. Embedded in ILF’s field office, fellows work alongside local teams to strengthen defense practices and build culturally grounded, client-centered systems. Fellows provide case-
based mentorship to empower local lawyers and social workers to become proactive, strategic advocates. Join us to learn how holistic legal aid can take shape beyond Western frameworks—and how you can contribute to this transformative, on-the-ground work.
Meghan Karnes (she/they) is a social worker and HR leader committed to equity, care, and accountability in global nonprofit spaces. She serves as the Manager of Human Resources and Office Administration at the International Legal Foundation, supporting the team through management, team building, and actionable operations. Meghan is currently working with the ILF Myanmar team to develop a Social Work Handbook that supports holistic legal aid through a culturally grounded lens. A fierce believer in radical transformation, Meghan strives to be a change agent in reimagining systems toward justice and sustainability.

Social Worker Supervisors Discussion Meetup
2025-08-21 14:00 - 15:00 (America/New_York) | https://publicdefenders.us/event/social-worker-supervisors-discussion-meetup/
This meetup is for supervisors of social workers, mitigation specialists, sentencing advocates, and dispositional specialists in public defense offices – it is for supervisors. The topic this month is how, as a supervisor, to navigate with supervisees the sometimes thorny rules and policies that guide defense-based social work (navigating mandatory reporting, priority of the attorney’s license in decision making, avoiding clinical work in defense-based settings, etc.).

Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) and the Criminal Justice System: A Neurocriminological Perspective
2025-08-26 12:00 - 13:00 (America/New_York) | https://publicdefenders.us/event/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 risk of impulsiveness, aggressiveness, and substance use. Consequently, justice-involved individuals often present with a history of TBIs. This population may benefit from interventions that adopt a neurocriminological approach. This interdisciplinary field integrates methodologies and techniques from biology, neuroscience, psychology, and other fields to better understand, predict, and prevent criminal behavior. This innovative training introduces the field of neurocriminology and explores how its concepts can help professionals better understand the relationship between TBI and crime. Attendees will learn how neurocriminology findings can inform screening and assessment, interventions, case management, and goal planning.
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 is also the founder and co-editor-in-chief of Forensic Scholars Today (FST). 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, sleep disturbances, serious and persistent mental health disorders, trauma and other life adversities, alexithymia, executive dysfunction, criminal recidivism, 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, Dyslexia, 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 also holds a wide range of professional certifications and has completed several comprehensive training programs. 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 previously 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 and has appeared in two documentaries related to the topic of FASD. Jerrod is also regularly featured on several national and international podcast programs.

Truth or Tech: Detecting and navigating AI generated evidence
2025-08-29 14:00 - 15:00 (America/New_York) | https://publicdefenders.us/event/truth-or-tech-detecting-and-navigating-ai-generated-evidence/
As technology advances, the manipulation of digital content has become more sophisticated and accessible than ever. It is now easier to generate or alter photos, videos, audio recordings, and even handwriting, raising critical questions about the integrity of evidence presented in legal proceedings. With the rise of AI-generated content, we must consider how these advancements can potentially compromise the reliability of evidence in court.
Brian Chase is a consultant, expert witness, adjunct professor of law, and attorney. He currently serves as ArcherHall’s Managing Director of Digital Forensics and eDiscovery, where he provides expert testimony, teaches 100+ CLEs a year, and manages their team of over a dozen experts.
Mr. Chase has a diverse education and work background. While working as a network administrator for the University of Arizona, he earned a Management and Information Systems degree from the Eller College of Management at the University of Arizona, a top-ranked program in the country. Mr. Chase went on to earn a law degree, also from the University of Arizona. Brian has taught Trial Advocacy at his alma mater for over ten years and considers it one of the most rewarding things he does.
Before pivoting to digital forensics, he worked as a trial attorney handling criminal defense and personal injury cases. Mr. Chase has worked as a digital forensics expert for over a decade and has testified over 45 times across the country as an expert in criminal and civil matters ranging from misdemeanors to murder to medical malpractice.
Mr. Chase has published and spoken on numerous technology-related issues impacting the law in the civil and criminal justice systems. He travels all over the country teaching law and technology, digital forensics, and evidence at a variety of legal and technical conferences. He is currently researching and presenting CLEs on AI technologies as they relate to the admissibility of evidence in both civil and criminal settings.
He was honored by the Tucson Hispanic Chamber of Commerce and the Arizona Daily Star with a “Tucson’s 40 Under 40 Award”, which recognizes young leaders who are making an impact in the community with their professional and charitable work.

Applying the Biopsychosocial Model in Criminal Justice, Forensic Mental Health, and Legal Settings
2025-09-02 13:00 - 14:00 (America/New_York) | https://publicdefenders.us/event/applying-the-biopsychosocial-model-in-criminal-justice/
The biopsychosocial model is an emerging multifaceted approach and framework with clear benefits for justice-involved individuals. This holistic framework considers the biological, psychological, and social elements that affect health, well-being, and behavioral health problems. As such, the biopsychosocial model is particularly well suited to help address the diverse array of physical and mental health problems, prenatal/postnatal trauma, cognitive impairments, unhealthy lifestyle practices, and histories of health disparities commonly experienced by justice-involved individuals. Designed for professionals working in criminal justice, forensic mental health, and legal settings, this training provides an overview of the biopsychosocial model and encourages its application in interactions with justice-involved clients. Key topics include how the biopsychosocial model can enhance and provide a valuable framework to use during the interviewing, intake, and screening processes, goal and treatment planning (including court-mandated treatment), expert consultation and testimony, sentencing, community supervision (e.g., probation and parole), and case management. Research findings from the following fields of study, adverse childhood experiences (ACEs), attachment theory, the first 1,000 days of life, lifestyle medicine, neurocriminology, and nutritional neuroscience, will be incorporated throughout this training to provide you with a more comprehensive understanding of this approach. A primary goal of this training is to encourage criminal justice, forensic, mental health, and legal professionals to become biopsychosocial model-informed. I invite you to think about how you can incorporate the biopsychosocial model into the work you are currently doing or are considering doing in the future.
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. He is the founder and CEO of the American Institute for the Advancement of Forensic Studies (AIAFS). Jerrod has provided consultation services to caregivers, professionals, and organizations on topics related to autism spectrum disorder (ASD), fetal alcohol spectrum disorder (FASD), confabulation, suggestibility, trauma, alexithymia, executive dysfunction, criminal recidivism, traumatic brain injury (TBI), and youth firesetting. He holds four master’s degrees and 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, he obtained 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. He has conducted over 300 workshops, webinars, and on-demand trainings for various organizations and audiences. Jerrod has published several articles and book chapters, co-edited the book Forensic Mental Health: A Source Guide for Professionals (Brown & Weinkauf, 2018) with Erv Weinkauf, and has been quoted in various magazines, newspapers, and professional outlets. He is also regularly featured on several national and international podcast programs.

Social Worker Meetup, The Client Meeting: How To Get Ready, What To Ask
2025-09-03 12:00 - 13:00 (America/New_York) | https://publicdefenders.us/event/social-worker-meetup-the-client-meeting-how-to-get-ready-what-to-ask/
This meetup will explore how we get ready for the client meeting (the first and subsequent), how we prepare, what we bring, how many meetings we schedule and the content of those meetings. This is a space for us to share what we ask, share forms we may use, ideas and tips on how we navigate difficult conversations, and what we put into place to help conclude the meeting by being trauma-sensitive.
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.

Promoting Health and Well-Being among Justice-Involved Populations: A Call on Criminal Justice, Forensic Mental Health, and Legal Professionals to Become Lifestyle Medicine and Health Coaching Informed
2025-09-09 13:00 - 14:00 (America/New_York) | https://publicdefenders.us/event/promoting-health-and-well-being-among-justice-involved-populations/
Justice-involved individuals are not only more likely than the general population to suffer from physical and mental health issues, but these co-occurring conditions can increase the risk of future criminal behavior. Lifestyle medicine (LM) and health coaching are two promising approaches that can help improve short- and long-term outcomes for this population. Focused on building and maintaining overall health, LM is composed of six pillars: (a) a diet centered on whole foods and plants, (b) regular exercise, (c) restorative sleep, (d) effective stress management, (e) minimal use of harmful substances (e.g., alcohol and drugs), and (f) ensuring positive social interactions. Complementing LM, health coaching helps encourage behavioral changes with a patient-centered approach, which is characterized by motivational interviewing techniques (e.g., active listening). Research shows LM and health coaching can help prevent, manage, and treat chronic illnesses and may also reduce the risk of recidivism during re-entry and community supervision (e.g., parole and probation). Designed for criminal justice and forensic professionals, this training introduces how LM and health coaching can help address physical and mental health issues among justice-involved individuals. Attendees will learn how LM and health coaching can be integrated into biopsychosocial frameworks during intake, screening and assessment, case planning, and treatment. Key learning objectives will be reinforced by highlighting case studies 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 is also the founder and co-editor-in-chief of Forensic Scholars Today (FST). 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, sleep disturbances, serious and persistent mental health disorders, trauma and other life adversities, alexithymia, executive dysfunction, criminal recidivism, 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, Dyslexia, 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 also holds a wide range of professional certifications and has completed several comprehensive training programs. 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 previously 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 and has appeared in two documentaries related to the topic of FASD. Jerrod is also regularly featured on several national and international podcast programs.

Racial Justice Meetup - September Edition
2025-09-09 13:00 - 14:00 (America/New_York)
Racial Justice Advocates,

The RACIAL JUSTICE MEETUP is back! For the September 2025 edition, Eyvin Hernandez will lead us in a presentation entitled RESIST: A Meaningful Discussion on Defeating ICE & Fascism in the Interest of Racial Justice.

Join us for this timely 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, NAPD!

Defending Families, Protecting Futures: The Frontlines of Defense Advocacy Skills Training
2025-09-10 10:00 - 2025-09-12 13:00 (America/Los_Angeles) | Hyatt Regency Seattle, 808 Howell St, Seattle, WA, 98101, United States
The National Association for Public Defense (NAPD) is excited to host its inaugural national Defending Families, Protecting Futures: The Frontlines of Defense Advocacy Skills Training at the Hyatt Regency in Seattle, WA, from September 10th to 12th. This significant event is a collaboration between NAPD, the Washington State Office of Public Defense, and Akin Parents for Parents.
This national conference is designed to offer intensive skills training and valuable networking opportunities for all public defense professionals dedicated to working with families. Whether you are an attorney, investigator, parent peer, social worker, or dispositional advocate, this conference is tailored to your needs. The dynamic agenda will feature a variety of learning formats, including plenary sessions, concurrent sessions, and small group breakouts, led by recognized experts from both national and local levels.
A central theme of the conference will be the development of practical skills for client-centered representation in family defense. Attendees will gain and refine effective techniques to best advocate for parents, acknowledging the comprehensive approach necessary for positive outcomes in child welfare cases.
Our partnership with the Washington State Office of Public Defense emphasizes a shared commitment to excellence in public defense. Additionally, Akin Parents for Parents, an organization focused on reuniting and empowering families within the child welfare system, will contribute crucial insights and a vital parent-centered perspective to our discussions. This collaboration highlights the significant role of parent allies and support in dependency actions.
We anticipate that attendees will leave the conference with enhanced practical skills, innovative strategies, and a strengthened network of colleagues committed to delivering high-quality, client-centered representation and support to families navigating complex legal challenges in family defense and child welfare cases.
See the 2025 agenda here!
Registration
Don’t miss this opportunity, registration closes August 30, 2025!
Need help with this registration process? Watch this video.
Be sure to review NAPD’s Event Policies to learn more about our attendance and cancellation policies.
Costs

Member Early Bird: $350 (Early-bird registration ended on July 25, 2025)
Member Regular: $475
Non-Member Early Bird: $500 (Early-bird registration ended on July 25, 2025)
Non-Member Regular: $600

Hotel Reservations
We have worked with the Hyatt Regency (the venue of the conference) to secure a block of rooms. Book your room using this link before 8/25/25. We recommend booking early!
Transportation to & from the Airport
Ride-share, door-to-door vans, and airport shuttle services are available to passengers at the Ground Transportation Plaza on the third floor in the SEA Airport parking garage. Premier Airport Shuttle Seattle offers shared and private shuttle service starting from $34.35 per person to Downtown Seattle hotels and also offers regularly scheduled Seattle cruise ship transfers. Hotel courtesy shuttles pick up and drop off passengers on the 3rd floor of the airport parking garage at Islands 1 & 2.
Additional information can be found here – https://visitseattle.org/visitor-information/getting-around/

View the NAPD 2025 Family Defense Conference schedule & directory.

Investigator Supervisor Meetup - Open Chat - 2:00 ET, 1:00 CT, 12:00 MT, 11:00 PT
2025-09-10 14:00 - 15:00 (America/New_York) | https://publicdefenders.us/event/investigator-supervisor-meetup-open-chat-9-10-25/
Hi investigators in a supervisory role,
it will be the second Wednesday of the month , so let’s chat about how things are in your offices, with your cases and clients.
See you Wednesday!

Social Worker Meetup: Being Trauma-Informed and Trauma Sensitive In Our Work
2025-09-17 12:00 - 13:00 (America/New_York) | https://publicdefenders.us/event/social-worker-meetup-being-trauma-informed-and-trauma-sensitive-in-our-work/
As we develop mitigation and begin to build rapport and a relationship with our clients, we are constantly aware of the harms that have been done to them, whether individually or on a macro level by communities or oppressive systems. Being trauma-informed and trauma sensitive helps us to not perpetuate those continued harms and abuses, but what does that look like? How do we keep in balance being trauma sensitive while also asking really personal and probing questions? We will spend this meetup talking about that balance, both from the perspective of the techniques we use as well as the moral quandary this poses for us in our work.
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 Supervisors Discussion Meetup
2025-09-18 14:00 - 15:00 (America/New_York) | https://publicdefenders.us/event/social-worker-supervisors-discussion-meetup-2/
This meetup is for supervisors of social workers, mitigation specialists, sentencing advocates, dispositional specialists, etc. – for those supervising these and similar roles in public defense offices. This month’s discussion meetup will continue from our conversation in August.
Kevin Bishop, LCSW, is the Social Worker Coordinator for the Colorado Office of the Alternate Defense Counsel, and Stephanne Thornton, LICSW, is the Social Work Training and Resource Coordinator for NAPD.

Building a Holistic Defense: Leveraging Special Education Law for Your Clients
2025-09-18 14:00 - 15:30 (America/New_York) | https://publicdefenders.us/event/building-a-holistic-defense-leveraging-special-education-law-for-your-clients/
School Justice Project (SJP) uses special education law to ensure that older, court-involved students with disabilities can access a quality education, whether they are incarcerated or in the community. By integrating special education law into the criminal defense context, special education attorneys can increase access to education, decrease future court contact, improve case outcomes, and reshape the education and justice landscapes for older court-involved students with disabilities. Special education attorneys can play a critical role in preserving both the substantive education rights and liberty interests of young people. Having access to free special education legal services as part of a holistic defense team can disrupt the pipeline that funnels older court-involved students with disabilities from the juvenile system into the adult criminal system.

Join this training to get an overview of how public defenders can leverage special education law for better client outcomes. Learn strategies for integrating a persuasive disability framework into defense advocacy. Gain skills in identifying various leverage points to advance a client’s education rights throughout the life of a criminal case. Learn strategies for developing special education-related mitigation and release plans in advance of sentencing. Finally, there will be a focus on integrating education advocacy throughout the reentry process.

Aubrey Dillon is the Managing Attorney at School Justice Project (SJP) where he leads a team of special education attorneys who represent system involved young people. In working with special education students, SJP attorneys fight for access to education, mitigate the harms of the criminal legal system, and work to disrupt the deep end of the school to prison pipeline. Aubrey joined SJP after over twelve years as a public defender advocating for our most marginalized community members facing accusations ranging from traffic violations to homicide charges. He is a proud alum of Queens Defenders (formerly known as Queens Law Associates), the Maryland Office of the Public Defender and the Public Defender Service for the District of Columbia, where he served as a Supervising Attorney. He has handled dozens of jury trials, hundreds of bench trials, and has represented thousands of individual clients. He holds a B.A. summa cum laude in Women’s and Gender Studies and Political Science from the City University of New York-Hunter College and a J.D. from Berkeley Law School. Prior to law school, Aubrey worked in the LGBTQ+ civil rights movement. Aubrey is an attorney admitted to practice in DC, Maryland, and New York and speaks Spanish.

Investigator Meetup 09/19/2025 - Open Chat - 2:00 ET, 1:00 CT, 12:00 MT, 11:00 PT
2025-09-19 14:00 - 15:00 (America/New_York) | https://publicdefenders.us/event/investigator-meetup-09-19-2025-open-chat-200-et-100-ct-1200-mt-1100-pt/
We are going to get together and talk about what’s on your mind. Including what’s been going with you, your office and client’s.
Join us this Friday!!

DEIJ MEETUP - the September 2025 edition
2025-09-24 13:00 - 14:00 (America/New_York)
The DEIJ MEETUP is back and for the September 2025 edition we will be led by John Lozada, Esq. We look forward to John’s presentation – Bias in our Legal Representation – Sharing Concerns and Experiences in Addressing Courts and Administrative Agencies, from the Challenge to Response.
Don’t miss this meetup! The meetup materials and Zoom link will be posted on the listserv.
See you soon, DEIJ!

Social Worker Meetup: Supporting Preparation for Parole and Reentry
2025-10-08 12:00 - 13:00 (America/New_York) | https://publicdefenders.us/event/social-worker-meetup-supporting-preparation-for-parole-and-reentry/
It has been said that preparation for reentry begins on the day of arrest, and as mitigation specialists, sentencing advocates, dispositional advocates, social workers, and others meeting with clients to learn their story, we are also focusing on learning what they can go back to or towards in their future. This week’s meetup will focus on how we support and prepare clients for their parole hearing and/or return to the community at the end of their sentence, or even earlier, upon release on bond. We will look at the Campaign for the Fair Sentencing of Youth’s Parole Preparation Toolkit, and hopefully you will bring the tools and resources you use and the ideas you have!

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.

Investigator Supervisor Meetup - Open Chat 2025-10-08
2025-10-08 14:00 - 15:00 (America/New_York) | https://publicdefenders.us/event/investigator-supervisor-meetup-open-chat-2025-10-08-2/
Hi investigators in a supervisory role,
it will be the second Wednesday of the month , so let’s chat about how things are in your offices, with your cases and clients.
See you Wednesday at 2:00 ET, 1:00 CT, 12:00 MT, 11:00 PT!
Jon

Just Juries - Balancing the Scales of the Jury Box
2025-10-09 12:00 - 13:00 (America/New_York) | https://publicdefenders.us/event/just-juries-balancing-the-scales-of-the-jury-box/
Join The Juror Project’s Director, William C. Snowden, Esq. and Deputy Director, Porsha-Shaf’on Venable, Esq., as they educate our people about jury service and jury nullification. Through their work, these amazing advocates “aim to change the makeup of juries to better represent the American population and the communities most commonly accused.” They do “this through community and public education about jury eligibility and the jury selection process and the power jurors hold in America’s high stakes criminal justice system.”

Come learn how to better advocate for balancing the scales in the jury box for true justice for all. REGISTER TODAY! Registration is FREE for NAPD members.

William C. Snowden (he/him/his) is the Director of The Juror Project and a professor at Loyola University New Orleans College of Law. His work is grounded in a simple truth: exclusion is not accidental.

As a former public defender in New Orleans, he represented people forced to stand trial in courtrooms designed to convict them. He later served as Executive Director of the Vera Institute of Justice in Louisiana, where he advanced efforts to eliminate money bail, reduce jail populations, and shift power toward communities.

Through public education, legal scholarship, and grassroots organizing, Will challenges the myths of fairness that surround the jury system. He exposes how civic participation has been weaponized to protect institutions rather than people. His work does not ask for faith in the system. It calls for clear vision, informed resistance, and collective presence in the places where decisions are made about our lives.

Learn more about William and the Juror Project here.

Porsha-Shaf’on Venable, Esq. is the Deputy Director of The Juror Project, where she supports programming, strategy, and partnerships aimed at increasing civic participation and dismantling exclusion in the jury system.

A licensed attorney and social worker based in the Bronx, she brings a background in public defense, forensic social work, and legal education. She previously served with The Bronx Defenders and the Neighborhood Defender Service of Harlem, where she held roles as a staff attorney, forensic social worker, and team leader. Porsha holds a J.D. from California Western School of Law and an M.S.W. from NYU. She has trained public defenders and legal advocates across the country on jury selection, jury nullification, and trial strategy through platforms like the Black Public Defender Association and the National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers.

Her work is rooted in building community power through legal knowledge and public access to justice while simultaneously co-creating a world that prioritizes accountability over punishment.

Learn more about Porsha-Shaf’on and the Juror Project here.

Social Worker Supervisor Discussion Meetup
2025-10-16 14:00 - 15:00 (America/New_York) | https://publicdefenders.us/event/social-worker-supervisor-discussion-meetup/
This meetup is a discussion for and with social worker supervisors supervising social workers, sentencing advocates, dispositional advocates, mitigation specialists and others performing these roles in indigent defense offices.
Stephanne Thornton, NAPD Social Work Training and Resource Coordinator and Kevin Bishop, Social Worker Coordinator for the Colorado Office of the Alternate Defense Counsel

Antiracist Expert Evidence: An Exploration of Racism
2025-10-23 13:00 - 14:00 (America/New_York) | https://publicdefenders.us/event/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 Assistant Professor Asees Bhasin, Esq. and Professor Jasmine Gonzales Rose, Esq. surveyed over seven hundred criminal-defense attorneys across the United States, and nearly half had never heard of expert witnesses testifying or submitting written reports on racism—what we call “antiracist expert evidence.” This finding would be unremarkable if such experts were unhelpful, but nearly ninety percent of surveyed attorneys expected that antiracist expert evidence would benefit their criminal-defense practices.
In this webinar, they will present the findings of the article, Antiracist Expert Evidence, published in the Yale Law Journal in 2025. This article conceptualizes, categorizes, and instantiates six different expressions, manifestations, or mechanisms of racism relevant to criminal defense: (1) racist affiliations and views; (2) racist language, sounds, and imagery; (3) racial stereotypes; (4) racial disparities; (5) implicit racial bias; and (6) the impact of racism on health and behavior. It also analyzes survey results showing criminal-defense attorneys’ levels of familiarity with antiracist expert evidence, their perceptions of its utility, and the barriers they anticipate to its introduction. This article then examines these barriers and identifies means of overcoming them.
This webinar will cover all of these facets and facilitate a discussion about the use of such evidence in criminal defense practice. You don’t want to miss it!
Questions and concerns? Contact BGT, Webinar Lead, with any questions and/or concerns at Brittanygt@publicdefenders.us.

Professor Jasmine Gonzales Rose is a leading evidence scholar whose work examines how race, language, and racism shape legal proof and influence who can serve as factfinders in the justice system. Rooted in critical race studies and drawing from epistemology and sociolinguistics, her research explores and reimagines evidence law to enhance fairness, accuracy, and equity.
She is Professor of Law and an award-winning teacher at Boston University School of Law, where she currently teaches Evidence, Criminal Law, and LatinXs and the Law, and previously served as Associate Dean for Equity, Justice, and Engagement. Before joining Boston University, she taught for nearly a decade at the University of Pittsburgh School of Law.
A graduate of Harvard Law School, Professor Gonzales Rose clerked for Judge Damon J. Keith of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit and Judge Héctor M. Laffitte of the U.S. District Court for the District of Puerto Rico. She serves on the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court Advisory Committee on Evidence Law and has led antiracist legal policy initiatives both within academia and the broader community.
She has served on the boards of the American Civil Liberties Union of Greater Pittsburgh and the Abolitionist Law Center, the latter founded by her former students.
Asees Bhasin is a visiting assistant professor of law and Donald Gaines Murray Fellow. She teaches in the first-year Lawyering Program. Her research focuses on critical evidence law, race and the law, reproductive justice, and the intersections between these fields. She is particularly curious about how seemingly neutral rules of procedure contribute to the marginalization of people and communities along race and gender lines.
Previously, Professor Bhasin worked at Boston University, where her research focused on the rules of evidence, and the use of expert witnesses to prove racism in criminal trials. Before that, she was a senior research fellow at the Solomon Center for Health Law and Policy at Yale University where she researched and wrote on health law and racism. She began her legal career as a Georgetown Women’s Law and Public Policy Fellow at the National Partnership for Women & Families in Washington, D.C. where her advocacy was centered on reproductive rights, and maternal and infant health.
Professor Bhasin’s scholarship has appeared or is forthcoming in the Yale Law Journal, the Indiana Health Law Review, the North Carolina Journal of Law and Technology, and the Georgetown Immigration Law Journal. She received a joint JD-LLB degree from Georgetown University Law Center and King’s College London. She was born and raised in New Delhi, India.

Investigator Meetup 10-24-2025 - Open Chat
2025-10-24 14:00 - 15:00 (America/New_York) | https://publicdefenders.us/event/investigator-meetup-10-24-2025-open-chat/
This Friday we will be having an open chat for our meetup. What are your challenges for your position, within your office, your client or just want to run an idea past your fellow investigators throughout the country, come join us! Our meeting time is: 2:00 ET, 1:00 CT, 12:00 MT, 11:00 PT

Racial Justice Conference 2025
2025-10-27 09:00 - 2025-10-30 12:00 (America/New_York) | Renaissance Montgomery Hotel, 201 TALLAPOOSA STREET, MONTGOMERY, AL, 36104, United States
Registration for the RJC is now closed! We can’t wait for you to #MeetUsInMontgomery!

CLE Certificates now available. If you’ve already purchased your ticket to the conference, click here to purchase the CLE add-on.

Join the National Association for Public Defense (NAPD) for the sixth annual Racial Justice Conference (“RJC”), as we return to Montgomery, Alabama, one of the historic homes of the Civil Rights Movement. NAPD is proud to host this immersive and transformative conference, designed to enhance your understanding of racial justice and your ability to fight for it in your work as a public defense professional.
Featuring highly respected speakers from across the nation, RJC is an unparalleled opportunity to explore three key areas that impact our pursuit of justice for clients of color.
First, we will examine how we, as individuals, approach race and how we can work to overcome our own biases and preconceptions.
Second, we will explore how public defender offices address race in their workplaces, and how we can create policies and practices that promote racial equity and fairness.
Finally, we will delve into effective strategies for challenging racial bias and discrimination wherever we encounter it.
Through a range of educational opportunities, you will gain the tools and insights needed to be a more effective advocate for racial justice in your work as a public defense professional. You will also have opportunities to connect with colleagues from across the country who share your commitment to advancing the cause of justice for all.
Click here to view the Racial Justice Conference schedule!
RJC Includes Visits to the Equal Justice Initiative’s Sites
RJC also includes visits to the Equal Justice Initiative’s The Legacy Museum, The National Memorial for Peace and Justice, and the new Freedom Monument Sculpture Park.
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New Exclusive Evening Keynote & Awards Event Available: Rooted to Rise Above
Don’t miss this exclusive event featuring Bryan Stevenson as the Keynote Speaker.

This year, we are offering a limited premium registration that includes access to an exclusive evening keynote and awards event. Rooted to Rise Above is an evening ceremony that honors and uplifts the practice of holistic public defense, recognizing individuals and teams who exemplify client-centered, comprehensive advocacy.
Space is ultra-limited for this event. Secure your premium registration NOW!
We are SO excited for this! You do not want to miss this!
Need to purchase a ticket to just for the Keynote Address & Awards Ceremony? Want to upgrade your standard registration to a premium ticket? Grab your ticket here or email us.

Be sure to review NAPD’s Event Policies to learn more about our attendance and cancellation policies.

BOOK YOUR HOTEL ROOM WITH OUR ROOM BLOCK
Our room block is at the Renaissance Montgomery Hotel & Spa at the Convention Center.
Click here to book your room.
We have a limited number of rooms. Please book early to ensure you get the best rate.
The last day to book using our room block is Wednesday, October 1, 2025.

CONVINCE YOUR BOSS
Need some help convincing your boss? Review and use our Convince Your Boss Resources. There, we provide a sample letter and other information to assist you in convincing your office to approve your RJC attendance.

SPONSORSHIP & DONATION OPPORTUNITIES
Interested in being a Sponsor? Contact us to discuss sponsorship opportunities.
Would you like to donate to our RJC scholarships? Donate to support scholarships for this conference here. Leave a comment, “RJC,” to apply it to this conference.
This years R.E.A.L. scholarship winners are here: R.E.A.L. Scholarship winners
MORE QUESTIONS
We will be happy to assist you! Contact us here with your inquiry.

* Ticket availability may be further restricted based on overall conference registration. Both the standalone and upgrade ticket options may expire at any time as standalone tickets or upgrading depends on ticket availability.
