Pretrial

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.

Supporting the travel and participation of 20 SAAs to a day-long conference on criminal justice reform.

NACDL staff will speak at a series of training programs for New Jersey Office of the Public Defender attorneys preparing to represent clients at first appearances and preventive detention hearings, in conjunction with the release of The New Jersey Pretrial Justice Manual.

NACDL staff will speak at a series of training programs for New Jersey Office of the Public Defender attorneys preparing to represent clients at first appearances and preventive detention hearings, in conjunction with the release of The New Jersey Pretrial Justice Manual.

The second annual meeting aims to provide the participants an opportunity to hear about successful legislative efforts to improve the right to counsel in the states, to learn about new market research on how Americans understand the right to counsel and how social media can be utilized to advance the right to counsel. It is also an opportunity for the R2C national consortium members to highlight their efforts over the past year in advancing the right to counsel.

Discuss the meaning of the right to counsel and judges' roles in ensuring that the constitutional right to counsel is meaningfully carried out.

Moderated session entitled "Judge's Role in Ensuring Constitutional Right to Counsel." Discussion on the role the judiciary plays in meaningfully and effectively carrying out the constitutional right to counsel. Panelists will provide an overview of the right to counsel in Canada and the US and delve into the progress made in states with respect to the right to counsel over the recent years, including a discussion about the Right to Counsel National Campaign.

Statewide training for practitioners working in drug courts and other problem solving court.

Technical Assistance was provided via phone conference to the Santa Barbara Family Service Agency who was in the process of embedding one of their social workers into the Public Defender Office in Santa Barbara.

As part of our on-going technical assistance in all aspects of holistic defense to requesting offices and organizations a public defender from the New Mexico Legal Aid organization travelled to The Bronx Defenders to meet with members of The Center for Holistic Defense to conduct a day of on-site study, evaluation, guidance, and training in various aspects of holistic defense.