Judges, juries and attorneys regularly report that trauma is one of the most challenging issues to clearly understand and manage. Trauma occurs along a spectrum, and trauma diagnoses only capture a part of the diverse ways trauma affects the legal system. Judges, attorneys, victims, witnesses and evaluators often have their own trauma histories that greatly affect their perceptions and decision-making. How do we navigate this complex landscape of traumas as court professionals and trauma evaluators? How do we ensure that trauma is considered equitably and inclusively?
What You’ll Learn:
That trauma may be understood categorically by a diagnosis, or dimensionally by factors that together do not meet diagnostic criteria but affect functional impairment
How to recognize when historical trauma or secondary traumatic stress (STS) has affected their own behavior and decision-making, including their compliance with the Code of Professional Responsibility
The best techniques to help those affected by trauma feel safe and comfortable reporting their experiences
How to create a legal environment that is trauma-responsive while ensuring procedural fairness and due process.
Chair: Dr. Thomas M. Brunner, Ph.D.,Dr. Brunner & Associates, Inc
Faculty: Dr. Thomas M. Brunner, Ph.D., Dr. Brunner & Associates, Inc Hon. Karen S. Adam, Pima County Superior Court (ret.) J.M. Stanlee West Watt, West-Watt Law PLC
