Ollin Law

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.

Courses

The Law as a Community Resource: April 2nd

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All above topics will be covered in each session

Date & Time:

April 2nd, 1pm-4pm

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The Law as a Community Resource: April 9th

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All above topics will be covered in each session

Date & Time:

April 9th, 1pm-4pm

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The Law as a Community Resource: April 16th

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All above topics will be covered in each session

Date & Time:

April 16th, 1pm-4pm

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The Law as a Community Resource: April 23rd

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All above topics will be covered in each session

Date & Time:

April 23rd, 1pm-4pm

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The Law as a Community Resource: April 30th

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All above topics will be covered in each session

Date & Time:

April 30th, 1pm-4pm

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The Law as a Community Resource: May 7th

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All above topics will be covered in each session

Date & Time:

May 7th, 1pm-4pm

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The Law as a Community Resource: May 21st

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All above topics will be covered in each session

Date & Time:

May 21st, 1pm-4pm

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The Law as a Community Resource: May 30th

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All above topics will be covered in each session

Date & Time:

May 30th, 1pm-4pm

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The Law as a Community Resource: October 2

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All above topics will be covered in each session

Date & Time:

October 2, 1pm-4pm

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Interaction with Law Enforcement Professional Understanding, and Legal Liability: November 21

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Course Description. This course is designed for peace advocates and public safety practitioners, particularly those who act as violence interrupters or community mediators. The aim is to equip participants with the knowledge and skills to effectively interact with law enforcement, while understanding their legal rights and responsibilities. We will detail the legal liabilities related to participants’ work and the police complaints processes. We will also discuss best practices to ensure safety, uphold legal protections and maintain the integrity of community-based public safety approaches. Throughout the course, we will draw on reports of interactions between public safety practitioners and the participants’ work experiences and expertise.

 

Learning Objectives. By the end of the session, participants will:

  1. Understand their rights and legal liability exposure when interacting with law enforcement.

  2. Gain insights on legal liability, particularly around personal and professional interactions with law enforcement.

  3. Understand best practices for maintaining professionalism and establishing effective communication during interactions with law enforcement.

  4. Understand the complaint processes available through Internal Affairs and other police oversight bodies.

**This is a virtual course, Zoom link to follow

Date & Time:

November 21, 12pm-3pm

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Instructor: Salomon Zavala

Salomon Zavala is the founder and managing attorney at Zavala Law Group and the Executive Director of Ollin Law. A first-generation Chicano, Mr. Zavala was raised by his single Mexican immigrant mother in South Central Los Angeles. While growing up, he witnessed first-hand the consequences of mass incarceration and tough-on-crime policies. Those early experiences fuel both his passion for legal work and commitment to justice. Mr. Zavala is a skilled legal strategist and trusted advisor who embraces an indigenous-centered and trauma-informed approach to the law. His work focuses on wrongful convictions, police brutality cases, restorative justice projects, Indigenous Peoples’ rights advocacy and catastrophic serious injury cases. He also serves as General Counsel to various nonprofit organizations, including indigenous-focused and criminal legal system reform organizations. Mr. Zavala is on the boards of various nonprofits, including Tzicatl Community Development Corporation an indigenous organization dedicated to advancing indigenous peoples’ rights, and The Community Based Public Safety Collective, a national organization focused on re-envisioning public safety. Mr. Zavala is a member of Coalition of Concerned Legal Professionals and the National Police Accountability Project. Mr. Zavala graduated from the University of California, Berkeley, School of Law after earning a Bachelor of Arts degree in Sociology from Amherst College.