Adjudication/Courts

National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers and the Georgia Public Defender Council are planning a two-day training program in Macon, Georgia, to target the underserved area of southwest Georgia. Public defense providers, including institutionally employed defenders and those who do public defense via court appointment, are welcome to attend. The program will have a dual track on the first day, with juvenile and adult topics, and the second day will be comprised of "crossover" topics for both adult and juvenile defenders.

The National Alliance for Drug Endangered Children (DEC) will be convening October 25-27, 2016, at the Atlantis Casino Resort and Spa in Reno, Nevada for their 13th Annual Conference. The agenda they are planning, the partners who will be participating, the experienced practitioners who will be attending, and the venue, all promise to make it a great conference! Those of you who have attended National DEC's annual conference in years past know that there is much to learn, do, and see at the conference.

Mental health courts were created to divert offenders away from prison into long-term community based treatment. These courts rely on assessments, treatment plans and ongoing monitoring of behavior to address both the mental health needs of the offenders, as well as the safety needs of the community. But, are mental health courts appropriate for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (I/DD)? Can they do more harm than good? Join NCCJD as we explore these questions and hear from experts in the field about this under-recognized dilemma in the criminal justice system.