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Mental Disability and Criminal Law

US$255 Regular Price

-US$25 GIFR Member Price


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CE Credits: 5.5 Credits
Length: 5.5 Hours
Level: Introductory
CE Eligibility: APA, ASWB ACE, ANCC, NBCC, NAADAC, CPA
Training Style: Video
Category: Mental Disability Law
Intended Audience: Mental Health, Correctional, and Legal Professionals

Training Description
This course will explore in depth the relationship between mental disability and the criminal trial process. Topics to be discussed will include all aspects of the criminal incompetency status (including trial, plea, counsel waiver and other pre-trial, trial and post-trial stages); the insanity defense; institutionalization and release policies that govern the cases of persons found permanently incompetent to stand trial and those found not guilty by reason of insanity; the right of forensic patients to refuse antipsychotic medications; the role of mental disability evidence in other aspects of criminal trial and pre-trial proceedings (including confessions and privilege against self-incrimination matters); sentencing, the death penalty (including issues involving mitigation, predictions of future dangerousness, executability of persons with mental retardation, and competency to be executed); and questions as to the effectiveness of counsel in cases involving mentally disabled defendants.
Author Biographies
Michael L. Perlin, JD is Professor of Law Emeritus at New York Law School (NYLS), founding director of NYLS's Online Mental Disability Law Program, and founding director of NYLS's International Mental Disability Law Reform Project in its Justice Action Center. Author of over 30 books and 300 articles on topics including mental illness and the criminal justice system, mental disability law, and sexual violent predator legislation, Professor Perlin has been the recipient of numerous prestigious awards including the American Psychiatric Association and American Academy of Psychiatry and Law’s Manfred Guttmacher Award. Before becoming a professor, Perlin was a Deputy Public Defender in New Jersey as well as the director of the Division of Mental Health Advocacy for the New Jersey Department of the Public Advocate.
Heather Ellis Cucolo, JD is an adjunct professor and the current director of New York Law School’s Online Mental Disability Law Program. In addition to representing individuals facing civil commitment under both the New Jersey Mental Hygiene Law and the New Jersey’s Sexually Violent Predators Act, Professor Cucolo has published and lectured internationally on the representation and treatment of sexual offenders. She is recognized as one of the premiere experts in sexual violent predator law and has counseled attorneys, judges and clinicians on law and procedure in civil commitment proceedings and issues involving persons suffering from a mental disability or illness within the criminal justice system.
Learning Objectives
This training is designed to help you:
  • To be able to deconstruct the various categories of “competency” (to stand trial, waive counsel, plead guilty, other)
  • To be able to identify the empirical and behavioral myths that have developed around the insanity defense
  • To understand the role of mental disability both in sentencing and as a possible mitigator in death penalty cases

1 Sponsorship: Multi-Health Systems, Inc. (MHS, Inc.) is approved by the American Psychological Association to sponsor continuing education for psychologists. MHS maintains responsibility for this program and its content. The American Nurses Credentialing Center accepts Continuing Education Credit sponsored by the American Psychological Association. The Global Institute of Forensic Research, provider #1371, is approved to offer social work continuing education by the Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB) Approved Continuing Education (ACE) program. Organizations, not individual courses, are approved as ACE providers. State and provincial regulatory boards have the final authority to determine whether an individual course may be accepted for continuing education credit. Global Institute of Forensic Research maintains responsibility for this course. ACE provider approval period: 6/8/2022-6/8/2025. Social Workers completing this course receive continuing education credits. Multi-Health Systems, Inc. (MHS, Inc.) is approved by the Canadian Psychological Association to sponsor continuing education for psychologists. MHS maintains responsibility for this program and its content. Multi-Health Systems, Inc. (MHS, Inc.) has been approved by NAADAC as an approved Continuing Education, Provider No. 144308. Programs that do not qualify for NAADAC credit are clearly identified. MHS maintains responsibility for this program and its content. The Global Institute of Forensic Research (GIFR) has been approved by NBCC as an approved Continuing Education provider. ACEP No.6711. Programs that do not qualify for NBCC credit are clearly identified. GIFR is solely responsible for all aspects of the programs. Global Institute of Forensic Research (GIFR) is recognized by the New York State Education Department’s State Board for Social Work as an approved provider of continuing education for licensed social workers #SW-0337. Multi-Health Systems, Inc. (MHS, Inc.) is recognized by the New York State Education Department’s State Board for Psychology as an approved provider of continuing education for licensed psychologists #PSY-0036.

2 Refund/Cancellation Policy: If you wish to request a refund on account of technical difficulties, please contact [email protected].

3 Commercial Supports: Multi-Health Systems, Inc. (MHS, Inc.) reports no conflicts of interest in the development and sponsorship of this training. MHS receives no commercial support for its Continuing Education programs or from its presenters.

Note 1: The CPA's approval of an individual, group, or organization as a CE Sponsor or Provider is restricted to the activities described in the approved application or annual report form. The CPA's approval does not extend to any other CE activity the Sponsor or Provider might offer. In granting its approval, the CPA assumes no legal or financial obligations to Sponsors, Providers, or to those individuals who might participate in a Sponsor or Provider's CE activities or programs. Further, responsibility for the content, provision, and delivery of any CE activity approved by the CPA remains that of the CE Sponsor or Provider. The CPA disclaims all legal liability associated with the content, provision, and delivery of the approved CE activity.

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