| MCLE Accreditation
Nebraska #257504, 3.5 CLE hours. (Regular/live)
Iowa #402578, 3.5 CLE hours. (Regular/live) **In-Person Only Registration Fees
$227.00 – Regular Registration
$175.00 – NSBA Sustaining Member
$85.00 – NSBA Sustaining Member Junior Actives
Free – Law students
Mental health disorders and competency are being seen more and more in courtrooms across the state, especially in the criminal justice system. Join the NSBA for an in-depth look at the ways in which mental health disorders can impact a justice-involved party, the criminal justice system, and the attorneys who work on these cases. | 8:30 a.m. – 9:30 a.m. | Basics of Mental Health Disorders
Becca Meinders, Lancaster County Public Defender's Office
This session will provide an overview of different mental health disorders and how they may present for justice-involved parties. Attorneys will also learn advice on the best ways to work with someone with each of those disorders. | | 9:30 a.m. – 10:15 a.m. | The Intersection Between Mental Health Civil Commitment and the Criminal Justice System
Chris Seifert, Lancaster County Attorney's Officer
This session will provide:
1. An overview of the Nebraska Mental Health Commitment Act and the Sex Offender Commitment Act
2. A review of how mental health factors into the criminal justice system: Competency, insanity, and the Mental Health Problem-Solving Program.
| | 10:15 a.m. – 10:30 a.m. | Break | | 10:30 a.m. – 11:15 a.m. | Mental Health Disorders in Justice-Involved Clients: A Practitioner's Perspective
Todd Lancaster, Nebraska Commission on Public Advocacy
What are some considerations for attorneys representing those with mental health disorders in criminal actions? This session will provide an overview of the Mental Health Competency Evaluation process from an attorney perspective, advice on how to work with clients during this process, and what to expect during the process. This session will also review the "not responsible by reason of insanity" (NRRI) defense and how best to represent clients where that defense may be a good fit. | | 11:15 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. | Mental Health as a Mitigating Factor
Becca Meinders, Lancaster County Public Defender's Office
Chris Seifert, Lancaster County Attorney's Officer
Todd Lancaster, Todd Lancaster, Nebraska Commission on Public Advocacy
Kristi Egger, Lancaster County Public Defender
This session will review ways in which mental health evaluation can be used as a mitigating factor during sentencing, including use of prior mental health evaluation or NRRI determination as a mitigating factor during sentencing in a new criminal matter and a discussion on post-sentencing treatment and how an attorney may be involved in that process. | | 12:00 p.m. – 12:15 p.m. | What are MHADs?
Shannon Seim, Volunteer Lawyers Project Director, NSBA
Attendees will learn about the Nebraska MHAD Project. This project is working to raise awareness in Nebraska amongst legal, medical, and human services professionals as well as the public about the availability and utilization of Mental Health Advance Directives. | |