Participating violence prevention specialists/public safety practitioners will learn about the laws that apply and the legal issues related to their work, and how to manage interactions that may have legal implications. Covering a diverse range of legal areas, including civil rights, restorative justice, criminal/immigration law, post-conviction relief, participants will be presented with critical legal information that will allow them to better navigate their roles as advocates in the communities they serve.
The Law as a Community Resource
Sessions will be offered multiple times throughout the year. Each session will cover all the below topics:
Legal Protocols
Focus is on how practitioners must manage interactions with those they meet as part of their work in order to avoid legal exposure. More specifically, discussion of how to: handle correspondence and phone conversations with incarcerated people; avoid aiding and abetting and conspiracy entrapments; handle interactions with law enforcement; and avoid obstruction of justice, interference with police investigations and resisting arrest charges.
Alternative Dispute Resolution
We delve into the process of gang mediation and non-violent conflict resolution, including learning restorative justice principles. We discuss the benefits of alternative dispute resolution practices in comparison to the criminal legal system and embracing a trauma-informed and holistic approach to conflict resolution. Attention is given to the legal limitations participants face when it comes to the privilege of confidentiality enjoyed by other practitioners, such as lawyers, doctors, and clergy, who may be engaging in similar work.
Local and State Post-conviction Relief & Resentencing Laws
We examine laws that participants should be aware of in order to better serve incarcerated and
previously incarcerated individuals they work with. Specifically, we take an in-depth look at the recent resentencing laws including AB 600 (Judge Initiated Resentencing), the Racial Justice Act and the Special Directive 20-14 implemented by LA District Attorney George Gascon. We will also look at recent laws implemented to remove barriers to entry such as changes to the expungement process, SB 731 (Sealing and Destroying Criminal Records) and the Fair Chance Act (“Ban the Box”) in California. We will also discuss commutations, certificates of rehabilitation and pardon laws.
Criminal and Immigration Legal Considerations
We will focus on criminal laws that participants likely encounter, including constitutional issues like stops and searches, recalling warrants, bail reform laws and probation/parole concerns. We will also explore the intersection of immigration and criminal law, including an overview of the relationship and cooperation between state and federal agencies and examining the Trust Act as it relates to the limitations of immigration holds requested by the federal government on local jails.
Police Misconduct and Excessive Force
We focus on how to document incidents of excessive force while also avoiding legal liability. Additionally, we discuss administrative remedies available to address officer misconduct or abuse and how to both file police misconduct complaints and preserve critical evidence. We will also discuss a broad overview of relevant federal and state civil rights laws, including Brady violations, habeas petitions, and rights surrounding community protest.