Defending Veterans in Criminal Courts
CLE Credit: Up to 3 hours of self-study CLE credit, where authorized. Please confirm with your state's CLE commission to ensure this program is available for self-study CLE certification.
Program Summary:
"The legal system cannot take PTSD into account unless the system is aware of the disorder existence. Quite often the burden of discovery falls on the shoulders of the defense attorney."
- Professor Ann Aubury
The effects of PTSD can cause veterans to engage in criminal behavior and consequently find themselves in legal trouble, struggling to differentiate their home from the battles they faced. As research regarding PTSD continues to improve, it has become clear that the need for proper legal representation for veterans is needed, and has become paramount to understand the invisible struggles they endure. Understanding such wounds and using this knowledge to effectively defend a veteran is among the most rewarding experiences a defense attorney can experience. With the proper tools, you will be able to defend a hero who defended you.
This program will provide the tools for the criminal defense practitioner who needs to develop mitigation and extenuation evidence for clients who are veterans, as well as strategies that can be used to advocate for veterans in trials and at sentencing. You'll learn how to question potential jurors about attitudes towards military service, their knowledge of the issues veterans face when transitioning to civilian life, and their knowledge of the unique mental health issues veterans face as a result of their service. You'll discover ways to educate the jury and the court about PTSD and the impact combat trauma has had on your client, and how such trauma manifests itself into criminal behavior. Most importantly, this program will guide you on methods to administer basic psychological first aid to stabilize your veteran clients so you can guide them towards receiving meaningful professional care and appropriate treatment.
Presentations Included:
1. Echoes of War: Litigating Combat Veterans' Mental Health Impairment Issues in Criminal Court | Brock Hunter
2. Invisible Wounds: Representing Active-Duty Military and Veterans | Edward Ungvarsky
3. Veterans Mental Health Issues | James W. Smith
Prices
- List Price $99.00
- Member Price $89.00