Pretrial

In this web-based training program, participants learned, the nation’s foremost mitigation expert, not just what we should be presenting in mitigation, but how to ask open-ended, non-judgmental, culturally relevant questions to elicit a life-affirming narrative.

Director Mike Thompson and Hallie Fader-Towe presented to the task force convened by the District Attorney to identify strategies to respond to those with mental illnesses in the criminal justice system. The presentation was at the invitation of the DA.

Mr. Jansen attended and presented at the National Black Prosecutor’s Association Annual Conference. The presentation discussed the transformational power of respect in the workplace and its potential application to the issue of prosecutorial leadership. Drawing on the latest research concerning the neuro-chemistry of human interactions, the presentation illustrates how respectful or disrespectful encounters can have a profound impact upon the interrelationship between prosecutors and the people and communities that they serve.

On October 18, 2015 Robyn Mar presented at the NYAPSA Annual Conference. Ms. Mar lead a plenary session regarding the elimination of money bail and supervised release. Specifically Ms. Mar focused on how supervised release both conflicts with and enhances holistic defense practices.

Paul Meshanko of Legacy Business Cultures presented to the Cook County State's Attorney leadership about the transformational power of respect in the workplace and its potential application to the issue of prosecutorial leadership. Drawing on the latest research concerning the neuro-chemistry of human interactions, Meshanko illustrates how respectful or disrespectful encounters can have a profound impact upon the interrelationship between prosecutors and the people and communities that they serve.

Mr. Hood and Mr. Jansen conducted a site visit to Yolo County District Attorney's Office. Yolo county DA requested information training on Intelligence Driven Prosecuoin and an overall evaluation of the operations of the Yolo County District Attorney's Office.

TTA recipients (public defender offices), chosen through a highly selective application process, receive twelve months of intensive, hands-on assistance focusing on those particular aspects of holistic defense identified by the recipient office. Integrating holistic defense into any public defender office is a transformative process and one that often happens incrementally. As such, we expect applicant offices to focus their requests for assistance either on a specific area or on those areas needing the most support and with the greatest potential for change.

The Arc’s National Center on Criminal Justice and Disability™ (NCCJD) recently published a white paper and hosted a webinar on sex offenders with I/DD, and noted an overwhelming need for this information nationwide. In response to the high demand for information, NCCJD brings you an addendum and accompanying webinar, specifically identifying the problems occurring as a result of autism spectrum disorder and lack of sexual education.

Provided TTA in several aspects of holistic defense to a representative of the Office of the Public Defender of Tippecanoe County, Indiana.

Using a multi-displinary approach to client interviewing, this training focused on using elements of social work practice to assess client needs while at the same time eliciting information necessary to present a solid defense for the client.