Investigator Supervisor Meetup: 3-12-2025 - Open Chat
2025-03-12 14:00 - 15:00 (America/New_York) | https://publicdefenders-us.zoom.us/j/82381950121
Supervisors and lead investigators it’s the second Wednesday of the month so let’s chat about how things are in your offices, with your cases and clients.
Join us!

Defying DNA Results
2025-03-11 14:00 - 16:00 | https://publicdefenders.us/event/defying-dna-results/
This presentation is an introduction to the basics of serology and DNA analysis, along with specific topics that defense attorneys need to be aware of when defending cases involving this type of evidence.
Sam Spencer is the co-owner and founder of SEP Forensic Consultants, located in Memphis, TN. She has been in the field of DNA analysis since 2009. Beginning her forensic career as a Special Agent Forensic Scientist in the Forensic Biology Unit, Sam processed over 1400 cases for multiple agencies. She has experience with Y-STR analysis, Next-Generation sequencing, Probabilistic Genotyping, and outsourcing lab analysis. She has provided expert testimony for both the prosecution and defense in several jurisdictions, including at the federal level. Sam was also a member of the Violent Crime Response Team, which involved processing and documenting crime scenes for local law enforcement. Sam also has experience working outside of the field of forensics including working as a Molecular Diagnostic Technologist at the Greenwood Genetic Center and a Lead Research at St Jude Children’s Research Hospital. An Army brat and native of Clarksville, TN, Sam currently lives in Memphis with her husband of eleven years, two boys, ages 5 and 8, and two dogs.

RACIAL JUSTICE MEETUP - March
2025-03-11 13:00 - 14:00
Racial Justice Advocates,
It’s time to march into another RACIAL JUSTICE MEETUP!
Tony White will join us again this year and lead a presentation entitled “Ensuring Equitable Access to Treatment and Recovery: The Role of Public Defenders in Connecting Clients with Substance Use Disorder Services.”
Let’s connect and learn together! Meetup flyer, agenda, and 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!

Social Work Meetup: Getting Creative with Data and Tracking Outcomes
2025-03-11 12:00 - 13:00 | https://publicdefenders.us/event/social-work-meetup-data-2025-03-12/
Data collection in our work is vital for funding, reporting to judges, reports to stakeholders, and expansion of our roles in our offices. What creative data are you measuring, and what outcomes are you tracking (and how)? Come to this discussion to talk about your data collection efforts, highlight your effectiveness and creativity with data, and share your data collection goals! Special Tuesday edition of this 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.

Memory Phenomena and False Narrative Creation: An Examination of Suggestibility, Confabulation, and Source Misattribution in Criminal justice, Forensic Mental Health, and Legal Settings
2025-03-10 13:00 - 14:00 | https://publicdefenders.us/event/memory-phenomena-and-false-narrative-creation/
This training will examine various memory phenomena that can cause false narrative creation and its implications within criminal justice, forensic mental health, and legal settings. In particular, three types of memory phenomena will be the main focus of this training: suggestibility, confabulation, and source misattribution. Suggestibility is a person’s predisposition to accepting inaccurate information as fact and incorporating this into memories of an event. In contrast, confabulation occurs when a person creates a new inaccurate memory of an event. Despite no deliberate intention to lie or deceive others, instances of suggestibility and confabulation can undermine everything from assessment and treatment to confessions and eyewitness testimony. For example, false information provided by a person during screening and assessment can contribute to missed or misdiagnoses, which contributes to inappropriate and ineffective treatment and intervention plans. Alternatively, false information provided during police interviews and interrogations or legal proceedings can result in false confessions, inaccurate eyewitness testimony, and wrongful convictions. Complicating matters, common techniques used during police questioning and cross-examinations like repetitive questioning and negative feedback only exacerbate the risk of these phenomena within forensic mental health and legal settings. The seriousness of these memory phenomena within criminal justice, forensic mental health, and legal settings warrants training in this area.
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.

Investigator Meetup: Open chat
2025-02-28 14:00 - 15:00 | https://publicdefenders.us/event/investigator-meetup-2025-02-28/
Investigators, we have had a bit of a break about we are back for our regular meetup! So, let’s chat about what’s been going with you and how things are with you, your office and client’s. I look forward in seeing you Friday!

February 2025 DEIJ and Racial Justice Meetup Mashup:Confronting Race Advocacy and Healing in the Shadow of Systemic Bias (Black History Month Edition)
2025-02-26 13:00 - 14:00 | https://publicdefenders.us/event/confronting-race-advocacy/
Join the February 2025 DEIJ and Racial Justice Meetup Mashup for BLACK HISTORY MONTH! NAPD’s Executive Director, Lori James, MSW, will give her highly anticipated presentation – CONFRONTING RACE: ADVOCACY AND HEALING IN THE SHADOW OF SYSTEMIC BIAS ©.
Through this presentation, members will learn how to serve as powerful allies and defenders in the fight against racial injustice. We will delve into the complexities of racial trauma, gauge our implicit biases, work to better understand how systematic bias impacts our clients of color, and develop strategies that challenge systemic prejudices.
Lori James earned her master’s Degree in clinical social work (University of Maryland SSW) and her B.A. in Social Work from Morgan State University. Lori has over 25 years of clinical, training, and organizational development experience, which includes program development, program management, collegiate instruction, as well as, leadership and management training. Lori has served as faculty for several universities, and as a member of national and regional leadership, development, communication, and team-building trainings. Lori is also President of Expand-Now, LLC, through this entity she can fulfill her lifelong passion of adding value to others through teaching and learning. She is a part-time Clinical Professor in the Family Studies and Community Development Department at Towson University. Prior to joining the Towson University family, she served as Director of Leadership and Program Development at Maryland Office of Public Defender which has more than 800 employees across the state of Maryland. While in this position, she demonstrated her ability to help others grow in the areas of teamwork, leadership and management. She also led the agency’s social work staff, consultants, and interns. In 2015, The Daily Record Newspaper named her as one of Maryland’s Top 100 Women. In addition to working as a Licensed Clinical Social Worker, she is also an author, and John Maxwell Certified Coach, Facilitator, Teacher, Trainer, and Speaker.

Social Work Meetup: What Do We Need? What Do We Have?
2025-02-26 12:00 - 13:00 | https://publicdefenders-us.zoom.us/j/83064169225
This meetup will broadly talk about what needs (resources, types of support, training, emotional bandwidth, etc.) we have in the work we are doing, and also discuss resources, strategies, supports, and ideas we have at our disposal. It is a broad topic that can apply to our emotional needs as well as our tangible supports – it runs the gamut so join in on the discussion!
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 Supervisor Discussion
2025-02-18 13:00 - 14:00 | https://publicdefenders.us/event/social-worker-supervisor-discussion-2025-02-18/
This discussion is for supervisors of social workers, mitigation specialists, dispositional advocates, sentencing advocates, and social work interns. It offers an opportunity to talk with other supervisors about how to coach, evaluate, and manage the work in defense based offices.
Facilitated by: Kevin Bishop, LCSW, Social Worker Coordinator with The Office of the Alternate Defense Counsel (CO); Michael E. Moore, LMSW, Social Work Supervisor with The Legal Aid Society, Criminal Defense Practice (NY); and Claudia Dunne, LICSW, Director of Social Work & Private Social Service Vendors, Youth Advocacy Division (YAD), CPCS (MA).

Investigator Supervisor Meetup: Open chat
2025-02-12 14:00 - 15:00 | https://publicdefenders-us.zoom.us/j/82381950121
HI Supervisors,
A discussion of what things are on the horizon for your offices. What challenges do you foresee. what new tools have been of use and where do you want to concentrate your efforts for your staff?

Social Work Meetup: Talking about Deportations
2025-02-12 12:00 - 13:00 | https://publicdefenders-us.zoom.us/j/83064169225
This meetup will focus on talking to our clients about the mass deportations as they risk impacting our clients and their families. We will also discuss and work to better understand the impact of these deportations on those affected. We want to be able to talk to our clients about these very real fears without being obstructive, oppressive, or causing additional emotional harm. We want to bring added awareness, sensitivity, and acknowledgment of our privileges to these (and every) conversation with our clients. Join this meetup to talk collectively about this challenging and frightening topic, and how we can better support and be present for our impacted clients. Mitigation specialist and social worker, Lindsey Sandoval, will be our special guest.
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.
Lindsey Sandoval is a licensed clinical social worker and has been practicing social work for over sixteen years. She received her Bachelor of social work degree in 2006 and a Master of social work degree in 2014. Lindsey’s experience includes child welfare, respondent parent advocacy, guardian ad litem social work, school social work, and defense-based forensic social work. In August 2016 Lindsey was hired as the first Denver juvenile public defender social worker and helped to create the social work position at the Denver Trial Office. After leaving the Public Defender’s office in March 2019 Lindsey became a contract forensic social worker with Alternate Defense Counsel. Lindsey has worked on countless Direct Files, homicides, and detention cases and has facilitated several juvenile-focused pieces of training for Colorado Juvenile Defender Center and Alternate Defense Counsel.

Stress & Public Criminal Defense: Comparing Male & Female Defender Experiences and Coping Strategies
2025-02-11 12:00 - 13:00 | https://publicdefenders-us.zoom.us/j/82379730945
This presentation discusses the findings from a study that focused on stress and coping strategies among public defenders, and particularly compared the experiences of male and female defenders. As frontline workers, critical to the due process of law, understanding and eradicating stress is essential to their well-being and the fair treatment of defendants. Employing thematic analysis of public defenders’ responses to open-ended questions, this study found gendered differences in how male and female defenders described their work motivations, challenges, and strategies for dealing with stress. Both male and female public defenders confront the stresses of injustice and heavy workloads. Female defenders, however, are more likely to experience gender discrimination and disrespect and the added stress of family and parenting responsibilities. Emotion-focused and recovery coping strategies were adopted far more often by public defenders than problem-focused approaches, but male defenders expressed psychologically detaching from work far more often than female defenders. The differences in male-female defender experiences and coping strategies and policy solutions for public defender stress are discussed.
Alisa Smith, J.D., Ph.D. is a Professor of Legal Studies at the University of Central Florida, and a retired assistant public defender. Her research interests include the study of the misdemeanor courts, the right to counsel, and the role of discourse in framing and maintaining power.T he goal of her life’s work as a former public defender and academic has been to improve the criminal legal system, particularly for the indigent.

Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), Miranda Rights Comprehension Deficits, and False Confessions
2025-02-10 15:00 - 16:00 | https://publicdefenders.us/event/autism-spectrum-disorder-asd-2/
Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is one of the fastest growing neurodevelopmental disorders in the world, with approximately 1 in 36 children in the United States meeting the diagnostic criteria (CDC, 2024). This multi-faceted, lifelong condition is a broad spectrum of symptoms that can range widely in presence and severity. Although most individuals on the autism spectrum are law abiding citizens, a small subset of individuals diagnosed with this disorder do come into contact with the criminal justice system as suspects or perpetrators of crime. Individuals with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) often struggle to navigate different stages and processes of the criminal justice and legal systems. This includes police interviews, interrogations, standing trial, testifying, and complying with the conditions of sentences in custodial (e.g., jail and prison) and community (e.g., probation and parole) settings. The communication, interpersonal, and behavioral symptoms of ASD, along with its comorbid conditions, directly undermines a person’s capacity to successfully function and make legal decisions (e.g., Miranda waivers and confessions). Designed for professionals working in psycholegal settings, this training will examine the contributing factors associated with poor Miranda rights comprehension and false confession risk among this population group. Best practices in criminal justice and legal interviewing through an autism-informed lens will also be discussed. Attendance will be particularly beneficial for professionals who want to improve the accuracy of information garnered during their interviews of persons with autism and learns ways to reduce miscarriages of justice among this vulnerable population group. 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.

Investigator Meetup: Immigration Impact on investigations
2025-02-07 14:00 - 15:00 | https://publicdefenders-us.zoom.us/j/87895561683
This discussion will include a basic overview of some of the recent immigration changes that could impact investigations, including changes that could make witnesses more biased and/or more nervous about engaging with you or with the legal system overall. I will also talk about how to find and interpret what limited immigration is available online.
Stephanie Wolf is the Director of Immigration Services for the MD Office of the Public Defender. She was previously an assistant public defender in Maryland and an assistant federal public defender in Las Cruces, NM.

NAPD Virtual Tech Expo 2025
2025-01-30 - 2025-01-31
Join Us for the NAPD Virtual Tech Expo 2025: AI Revolution in Public Defense – Innovate, Integrate, Impact

https://publicdefenders.us/app/uploads/2024/10/tech-expo-promo.wav
Click above to listen to the Tech Expo Podcast Deep Dive (3 min) (created using AI in NotebookLM)
Event Date: January 30-31, 2025
Cost: Free for NAPD Members
Session Recordings: Available post-event for registered attendees
Public defenders and AI solution providers alike are facing a crucial moment in the integration of technology within public defense. The 2025 NAPD Virtual Tech Expo bridges this gap, offering an invaluable opportunity to learn, engage, and implement AI-driven innovations into your practice.
What to Expect:

45-Minute Sponsor Sessions: Our sponsors will showcase cutting-edge AI solutions that are transforming legal research, digital evidence analysis and analysis, and case management. The presenters are familiar with unique requirements and restrictions of public defender offices. See how the latest tools can make your work more efficient and effective.
Expert-Led Public Defense Sessions: Learn from public defense professionals who are leveraging AI in ethical and impactful ways. These sessions will cover:

AI in individual casework: Enhancing case strategy and outcomes.
Systemic arguments using AI: Empowering your advocacy for criminal justice reform.
Automating systems within public defense: Streamlining workflows to better serve clients.
Ethics and responsible use
Creating and updating office policies
Process for selecting vendors

See the current program
This event is designed for public defenders at all stages of AI integration—whether you’re exploring how to get started or looking to enhance your current use of technology. All sessions will be recorded, so you won’t miss out even if you can’t attend live.
Featuring

Giselle Pomerleau, Federal Public Defender New Jersey
Carlos Martinez, Miami-Dade Public Defender
Brett Schandelson, Director of the Montana Office of State Public Defender
Rocky Ramirez, Concho Valley Public Defender in Texas

Thank you to our sponsors

Social Work Meetup: Incorporating Immigration Stories into Mitigation
2025-01-29 12:00 - 13:00 | https://publicdefenders-us.zoom.us/j/83064169225
Crimmigration is the intersection of criminal and immigration law, but it is also an opportunity to develop and tell the immigration story through mitigation. Immigration stories can be rich with hope and heavy with trauma and in this week’s meetup we will talk about the different ways and points in the case where we weave in the immigration story in our telling of mitigation.

Our first DEIJ MEETUP of 2025!
2025-01-22 13:00 - 14:00
DEIJ Advocates,
Start your New Year off right by joining us for our first DEIJ MEETUP of 2025!
Let’s introduce ourselves and set our intentions for the year so we can do the work! Don’t miss this meetup! Meetup flyer and agenda will be posted on the listserv.
See you soon, DEIJ!

Social Worker Supervisor Discussion
2025-01-21 13:00 - 14:00 | https://publicdefenders.us/event/social-worker-supervisor-discussion/
This Supervisor Discussion will continue the conversation around employee evaluations and other aspects of supervising social workers (and those in similar roles) in defense based offices.
Facilitated by: Kevin Bishop, LCSW, Social Worker Coordinator with The Office of the Alternate Defense Counsel (CO); Michael E. Moore, LMSW, Social Work Supervisor with The Legal Aid Society, Criminal Defense Practice (NY); and Claudia Dunne, LICSW, Director of Social Work & Private Social Service Vendors, Youth Advocacy Division (YAD), CPCS (MA).

Social Work Meetup: How Do We Get Them to Care?
2025-01-15 12:00 - 13:00 | https://publicdefenders.us/event/social-work-meetup-how-do-we-get-them-to-care/
So often, our mitigation work uncovers harrowing life stories about individuals’ lives. These stories are compelling to us, but may fall flat with the finder of fact. How can we help them care? How can we present mitigation in a way to make the finder of fact care? Come with ideas and suggestions of what you have tried, what has worked, what didn’t work and why, and let’s discuss how to get others to care a fraction of the amount we do!
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 Social Work Training and Resource Coordinator for NAPD, 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.

Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD): Criminal Justice, Forensic Mental Health, and Legal Considerations
2025-01-14 14:00 - 15:00 | https://publicdefenders.us/event/autism-spectrum-disorder-asd/
Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a complex, multifaceted, neurodevelopmental disorder impacting several domains of functioning. Core deficits associated with autism include social communication deficits and impairments in reciprocal social-emotional interactions across multiple settings and repetitive and restricted patterns of interests, activities, and behaviors. It is important to note that the expression of these core deficits can vary significantly in terms of presence and severity from person to person depending on a host of factors. Although most individuals on the autism spectrum are law abiding citizens, a small subset of individuals diagnosed with this disorder engage in problematic and criminal-related behaviors. This training will examine the potential causes and contributing factors related to when someone with autism becomes involved in the criminal justice and legal systems. Implications for interviewing, screening, and intervention will also be discussed. A primary goal of this training is to learn why criminal justice, forensic mental health, and legal professionals should become autism-informed. Empirically based research findings and case study examples 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), confabulation, suggestibility, 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 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 200 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.

Racial Justice Meetup
2025-01-14 13:00 - 14:00
Start your New Year off right by joining us for our first RACIAL JUSTICE MEETUP of 2025!
Let’s introduce ourselves and set our intentions for the year so we can do the work! Don’t miss this meetup! Meetup flyer and agenda will be posted on the listserv. Be sure that you don’t miss a Racial Justice Meetup (every second Tuesday of the month), add it to your calendar here.
Not on the Racial Justice listserv? Send your request to be added to BGT, DEIJ Coordinator, at Brittanygt@publicdefenders.us.
See you soon, NAPD!

Investigator Supervisor Meetup: First meeting of the year!
2025-01-08 14:00 - 15:00 | https://publicdefenders.us/event/investigator-supervisor-meetup-first-meeting-of-the-year/
Hi supervisors,
Come join us for the first meetup of the year! What are your plans for the coming year and what we hope to accomplish, and what we did well in the past year!
See you Wednesday!
Jon

Investigator Meetup: 12/20/2024 last one of the year- Year recap
2024-12-20 14:00 - 15:00 | https://publicdefenders.us/event/investigator-meetup-12-20-2024-last-one-of-the-year-year-recap/
Hi all,
We are back for our regular meetup! So, let’s chat about this past year, the good, bad and ugly for you, your office and client’s. I look forward in seeing you Friday
Take care,
Jon

Cross Examination (Preparation, Structure, and Impeachment)
2024-12-19 14:00 - 15:30 | https://publicdefenders.us/event/cross-examination/
Cross Examination is one of the important skills to develop as a criminal defense lawyer. It is a skill and not an art, meaning that if you put the work in you can become an effective cross examiner. You do not have to be born with the skill. In this presentation, you will learn the skills which are important to becoming a successful cross examiner. You will learn that you can be both effective and persuasive if you follow the lessons provided as part of this program.
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 a First Assistant Deputy Public Defender ad Trial Chief 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 is the co–chair of NJ OPD’s Forensic Science Working Group. Andre has extensive trial experience taking more than 95 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 designed a Defending a Child Sex Case advanced trial skills program, which has been used by State Public Defender Offices in Montana, Missouri, and New Jersey. He is a core faculty member with Gideon’s Promise (gideonspromise.org) and Harvard Law School’s Criminal Justice Institute Trial Advocacy Workshop (TAW). Andre is both a presenter and frequent blog contributor for the National Association of Public Defense (publicdefenders.us). Due to his passion and commitment to client–centered representation, Andre has received the Kevin Andersen Award by the New York State Defender’s Association (NYSDA) and the Denison Ray Award by the New York State Bar Association

Social Work Supervisors Discussion
2024-12-17 13:00 - 14:00 | https://publicdefenders.us/event/social-work-supervisors-discussion/
This month’s supervisor discussion will focus on the supervisee evaluation process. How do you evaluate thee practice of your supervisees and their work? Do you solicit feedback from attorneys? What evaluation tools do you use and how do you give your supervisees a voice about thee areas they feel are important for them to grow in? Come join in the discussion and continue to share your work and what you are wrestling with and interested in talking about as a social work supervisor! For supervisors of social workers, mitigation specialists, dispositional advocates, and those in similar supervised positions.
Facilitated by: Kevin Bishop, LCSW, Social Worker Coordinator with The Office of the Alternate Defense Counsel (CO); Michael E. Moore, LMSW, Social Work Supervisor with The Legal Aid Society, Criminal Defense Practice (NY); and Claudia Dunne, LICSW, Director of Social Work & Private Social Service Vendors, Youth Advocacy Division (YAD), CPCS (MA).

Special Tuesday Meetup: Best of Edition, Last of 2024!
2024-12-17 12:00 - 13:00 | https://publicdefenders.us/event/special-tuesday-meetup-best-of-edition-last-of-2024/
In this last social worker (sentencing advocate, mitigation specialist, dispositional advocate, and others in similar roles) meetup for 2024, on a TUESDAY, we are going to have a “Best Of” meetup. What was the best thing you learned this year? What was the best skill you used this year? What was the best outcome in a case you got this year? What was the best advice you got to help you in this work this year? What was the best advice you gave? What was the best thing you read, watched, listened to that helped you in your work this year? This is our best of so come and share what your best was!
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 Social Work Training and Resource Coordinator for NAPD, 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.

Neurodevelopmental Disorders (NDDs) and False Confessions: Causes, Consequences and Solutions
2024-12-16 15:00 - 16:00 | https://publicdefenders-us.zoom.us/j/87441189806
Neurodevelopmental disorders (NDDs) such as attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), autism spectrum disorder (ASD), fetal alcohol spectrum disorder (FASD), and intellectual developmental disorder (IDD) are common disorders that are associated with several cognitive, behavioral, emotional, social, and physical health deficits and challenges. For a variety of reasons, some individuals with NDDs come into contact with the criminal justice and legal systems. Once involved in these systems, the impacted individual may be at greater risk for miscarriages of justice like false confessions and wrongful convictions as well as an increase in vulnerability and victimization. This is especially the case when professionals lack an awareness, understanding, and appreciation of the deficits, challenges, and barriers persons with NDDs frequently face. This training will focus exclusively on the causes, consequences, and solutions associated with NDDs and false confessions. Other topics discussed in this training include problematic interviewing tactics, confabulation, memory distrust, suggestibility, compliance, gullibility, developmental factors, fantasy proneness, executive dysfunction, error monitoring deficits, uncertainty, stress sensitivity, carelessness, problematic coping strategies, sleep disturbances, circadian rhythm misalignment, fatigue, and memory problems to name a few. 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), confabulation, suggestibility, sleep disturbances, 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, 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.

Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders in the Criminal Justice System
2024-12-13 15:00 - 16:30 | https://publicdefenders.us/event/fetal-alcohol-spectrum-disorders-in-the-criminal-justice-system/
Fetal alcohol spectrum disorders are common affecting between 1 and 5% of the population. FASD is rarely diagnosed and as a result is often not considered in criminal or mental health proceedings.
Participants in this webinar will:

Be introduced to the diagnostic criteria for FASD
Be informed about the implications of FASD in criminal proceedings
Demonstrate how to develop a maternal alcohol exposure history
Understand key neuropsychological impairments in FASD
Discuss how to utilize FASD as a mitigating factor in criminal proceedings

Larry Burd received his PhD in Community Health Sciences from the University of Manitoba Health Science Center in Winnipeg, Manitoba.
Dr. Burd currently is a professor in the Department of Pediatrics at the University of North Dakota School of Medicine and Director of the North Dakota Fetal Alcohol Syndrome Center and FAS Clinic. Dr. Burd has been with the Pediatric Therapy Program for 44 years where he has evaluated over 18,000 children with birth defects, developmental disorders and mental illness. Dr. Burd has conducted research in 41 countries around the world. He has ongoing studies of people with Tourette syndrome, autism, fetal alcohol syndrome and infant mortality risk. He published over 260 professional papers on topics dealing with development and behavior in children and adolescents. He has had clinics for children with developmental disabilities and mental health disorders on 41 different Tribal Nations.
William Edwards is considered one of the early pioneers in the training of attorneys around issues involving fetal alcohol spectrum disorders (FASD). This year marks the 27th Anniversary of the first lecture Billy gave back in 1997 in Lafayette, Louisiana for the Louisiana Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers on representing clients with FASD. During this 27-year period, Billy has organized FASD trainings around the United States and in 8 countries, consulted with attorneys in the United States and in Australia, New Zealand, Canada, and England. He has also consulted with several federal public defender offices around the United States in putting together amicus briefs in both the federal courts and the United States Supreme Court with FASD United, formally the National Organization on FAS being the amicus on issues relating to FASD.
William (Billy) Edwards is a Deputy Public Defender in Los Angeles California, working in the Los Angeles County Mental Health Court, representing clients with mental illness and neurodevelopmental and neurocognitive disorders. He has been with the Los Angeles County Public Defender for 23 years. Prior to that Billy worked on capital habeas appeals in Florida, and a paper he co-authored on people with intellectual disabilities on death row in the United States was published in the Journal of Mental Retardation and has been cited broadly, including before the U.S. Supreme Court in Atkins v. Virginia. The Atkins decision finally exempted defendants with intellectual disabilities from the death penalty.
Dr Jones published the original papers describing fetal alcohol syndrome. He is well known for his work on teratogen exposure and for his role in prevalence studies of FASD around the world. He is widely recognized for his testimony in the Parkland Shooter Case which avoided a death penalty.

Investigator Meetup: 12/13/2024 - Open Chat 2:00 ET, 1:00 CT, 12:00 MT, 11:00 PT
2024-12-13 14:00 - 15:00 | https://publicdefenders.us/event/investigator-meetup-12-13-2024/
We’re back, we have had a bit of a break about we are back for our regular meetup! So, let’s chat about what’s been going with you and how things are with you, your office and client’s. I look forward in seeing you this Friday!!

Investigator Supervisor Meetup: Open Chat 2:00 ET, 1:00 CT, 12:00 MT, 11:00 PT
2024-12-11 14:00 - 15:00 | https://publicdefenders-us.zoom.us/j/82381950121
This is the last investigator Supervisor meetup of the year, let’s chat about what went right and wrong this past year for you, your investigators and clients! What’s coming in the new year and what should we thinking about! Come join us!
