Defending ending Sex Offender enders in Civil Commitment Cases a convocation of leading experts in law and psychology First annual conference of the Sex x Offender Commitment Defender Association In cooperation with National Legal Aid and Defender Association Sunday, Monday and Tuesday September 24-26, 2000 Chicago
About the Conference Over the past several years, 14 states in the U.S. have passed laws providing for the civil commitment of sex offenders after the completion of their prison sentences. These individuals are deemed so likely to re-offend that they should be involuntarily committed to secure psychiatric facilities or, in rare cases, extremely secure community placement. The U.S. Supreme Court has upheld the constitutionality of these laws, which has resulted in additional states having adopted civil commitment of sex offenders. Defending Sex Offenders in Civil Commitment Cases is the first annual conference of the Sex Offender Commitment Defender Association, a group of defense attorneys and related professionals who specialize in sex offender civil commitment cases. The leading experts in sex offender civil commitment law and forensic mental health will present current psychological research and defense strategies in sex offender commitment cases. The conference will provide a forum for learning and sharing among attorneys who defend sex offenders in commitment proceedings, and for mental health professionals who serve as experts for the defense. Conference participants will understand findings and shortcomings in sex offender actuarial re-offense risk assessment research. explore treatment and supervision alternatives to secure psychiatric hospitalization. examine recent court rulings related to sex offender civil commitment. learn the most effective methods for defending sex offender civil commitment clients. share innovative approaches in sex offender commitment release defense. Attendance Restrictions Attendance at this conference is restricted to criminal defense attorneys, their staff members, and mental health professionals who serve as experts for the defense. Persons who wish to attend but are not in one of these professional groups may submit a registration request prior to the conference with a letter explaining why they should be permitted to attend. This letter should be sent to SOCDA, c/o Sinclair Seminars, 426 S. Yellowstone Drive, Madison, WI 53719-1051, and must be received no later than September 9, 2000. No telephone inquiries, please. These individuals will be notified of SOCDA s decision within one week of the receipt of the request. If a reply is not received, individuals must contact the organization prior to the program. On-site registrations for persons who are not defense attorneys, their staff members, or defense experts will not be permitted. Individuals who are primarily involved in the prosecution of sex offender commitment cases will not be authorized to attend.
Defending Sex Offenders in Civil Commitment Cases Sunday, September 24, 2000 8:30-8:45 a.m. Welcome and opening remarks by Sharon Patrick, MSSW, Client Services Coordinator, Wisconsin Public Defender, Madison, WI 8:45-9:45. a.m. R. Karl Hanson, Ph.D., Senior Research Officer, Solicitor General of Canada, Ottawa, Ontario: Static-99: Strengths and weaknesses; Dynamic sex offender reoffense risk assessment; Measuring change in recidivism risk; Decision-making for commitment release; Extrapolations of re-offense rates 9:45-10:00 a.m. Break 10:00-10:45 a.m. R. Karl Hanson continued 10:45-11:00 a.m. Break 11:00 a.m.-noon Douglas Epperson, Ph.D., Department of Psychology, Iowa State University, Ames, IA: Minnesota Sex Offender Screening Tool-Revised (MnSOST-R): Strengths and Weaknesses noon-1:00 p.m. Lunch on own, buffet in hotel atrium dining room 1:00-2:00 p.m. Douglas Epperson continued 2:00-2:15 p.m. Break 2:15-3:15 p.m. Stephen D. Hart, Ph.D., Associate Professor of Psychology, Simon Fraser University, Burnaby, British Columbia: Conceptual, methodological and technical limitations of actuarial instruments for assessing risk for sexual violence 3:15-3:30 p.m. Break 3:30-4:30 p.m. Stephen D. Hart continued Monday, September 25, 2000 8:30-9:30 a.m. John M. W. Bradford, M.D., Forensic Psychiatrist, Royal Ottawa Hospital, Ottawa, Ontario: Psychopharmacology with sex offenders; Sex offender diagnoses including Rape NOS; Canadian experience of managing sex offenders in the community 9:30-9:45 a.m. Break 9:45-10:45 a.m. John M.W. Bradford continued 10:45-11:00 a.m. Break 11:00 a.m.-noon Greg Bal, J.D., Assistant Public Defender, Des Moines, IA and Shawn R. Crowley, J.D., Supervising Attorney, The Defender Association, Seattle, WA: The mechanics of defending sex offender commitment cases noon-1:00 p.m. Lunch on own, buffet in hotel atrium dining room 1:00-2:00 p.m. Greg Bal and Shawn Crowley continued 2:00-2:15 p.m. Break 2:15-3:45 p.m. Eric Janus, J.D., Professor of Law, William Mitchell College of Law, St. Paul, MN and Ken Kress, J.D., Ph.D., Professor of Law, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA: After Hendricks: Viable Constitutional Challenges to Sexually Violent Predator Commitment Laws 3:45-4:00 p.m. Break 4:00-4:45 David Hirsch, J.D., Staff Attorney, The Defender Association, Seattle, WA: Federal and state challenges to sex offender commitments
Tuesday, September 26, 2000 8:30-9:30 a.m. Terence W. Campbell, Ph.D., Psychologist, Sterling Heights, MI: Sex offender commitment evaluations and phrenology: Issues of evidentiary reliability 9:30-9:45 a.m. Break 9:45-11:15 a.m. Theodore Donaldson, Ph.D. Psychologist, Morro Bay, CA and Lorene Mies, J.D., Deputy Public Defender, Santa Ana, CA: SVP 2000: Cross- examination from the scientific and legal perspective 11:15-11:30 a.m. Break 11:30-12:15 p.m. Panel of Legal Experts: Greg Bal, J.D., Christopher E. Cosden, J.D., Assistant Public Defender, Sarasota, FL, Shawn Crowley, J.D. and Erik Janus, J.D., moderated by Lorene Mies, J.D. Innovative approaches in Sex offender commitment cases; Questions and answers 12:15-12:30 p.m. Conference closing remarks by Lorene Mies, J.D. Continuing Education Application will be made for Continuing Legal Education (CLE) accreditation for all qualifying conference sessions in most states with mandatory CLE requirements. Complete information will be available in the on-site conference materials. Participants should be familiar with the CLE requirements of their states. Conference Site Defending Sex Offenders in Civil Commitment Cases will be held at the Sheraton Gateway Suites Chicago O Hare Airport Hotel, 6501 N. Mannheim Road, Rosemont, IL 60018, (847) 699-6300, fax (847) 699-0391. All guest rooms in the hotel are two-room suites consisting of a separate living room (with sofa sleeper) and bedroom. The hotel offers a free shuttle to O Hare Airport and ample free parking. Discounted guest room rates are offered at $99.00/single or double occupancy + 12.5% tax. To obtain the discounted rate, participants should notify the hotel that they are attending the SOCDA conference and make room reservations by September 5.
Registration Form REGISTRATION FEE: $325.00 PLEASE REGISTER ME FOR Defending Sex Offenders in Civil Commitment Cases, September 24-26, 2000 (please review Attendance Restrictions to be sure you are qualified to attend). I am a defense attorney, staff member of a defense attorney, or a mental health professional who serves primarily as an expert for defense attorneys (signature required) PLEASE PRINT: Name Title Agency Affiliation Address City, State, Zip Email Telephone ( ) Fax ( ) I am enclosing $ or my agency purchase order. Make check payable to Sinclair Seminars. Please charge $ to my [_]Visa [_] Mastercard [_] American Express Card number Expiration date Signature SEND REGISTRATION FORM QUESTIONS: AND PAYMENTS TO: Contact Heather Reu, Sinclair Seminars Kristi Baker, 426 S. Yellowstone Drive or Lloyd Sinclair Madison, WI 53719-1051 email: heather@sinclairseminars.com (608) 829-3880 lloyd@sinclairseminars.com fax: (608) 829-1422 kristi@sinclairseminars.com Cancellation policy: Full refund for written cancellation received by August 24. After August 24, with written cancellation, registration fee will be refunded minus a $35 administrative fee. Refunds are not provided for persons who do not cancel and do not attend. Confirmation and additional information will be sent upon receipt of completed registration form, payment or purchase order, and for non-defense attorneys and experts, acceptance of registration. Additional and updated information can be obtained on the Sinclair Seminars Web site at www.sinclairseminars.com Sinclair Seminars is managing this conference for the Sex Offender Commitment Defender Association. Sinclair Seminars is a program of Lloyd G. Sinclair, MSSW, S.C.