Mental Disabilities and the Criminal Justice System

Mental Disabilities and the Criminal Justice System

Hosted by criminal defense lawyer Elizabeth Kelley, Mental Disabilities and the Criminal Justice System provides information - and hope - to people with mental disabilities ensnared by the criminal justice system, as well as to their families and attorneys. Attorney Kelley interviews judges, mental health professionals, parents, and activists about how best to advocate for this vulnerable population.

Episodes

February 24, 2025 21 mins

In this episode, Elizabeth Kelley talks with her guest, Judge Jay Blitzman. The two discuss the intersection of youthful offenders and mental health issues in the criminal justice system,  the shift away from using the term "juvenile", and the ongoing challenges in achieving due process for yo...

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In this episode, Elizabeth Kelley talks with her guest, Dr. Carol Weiss. The two discuss the terminology of substance use disorders, the co-occurrence with mental health issues, and the effects on decision-making within the criminal justice system.

In this episode, they discuss:

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October 1, 2024 32 mins

In this episode, Elizabeth Kelley talks with her guest, Zach Segal. The two discuss post-conviction remedies, specifically 2254 and 2255 motions and motions for Compassionate Release, as well as the challenges people with mental disabilities face in filing these...

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July 15, 2024 20 mins

This week Elizabeth Kelley talks with her guest, Stephen Cobb. The two discuss the relevance and power of neuroimaging in the courtroom, as well as what the process entails and produces.

 

In this episode, they discuss:

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This week, Elizabeth Kelley talks with her guest, Dr. Elliot Atkins. Dr. Atkins is the author of the chapter entitled “Working with the Expert: From the Perspective of Experts” in the upcoming 2nd edition of Elizabeth’s book, Representing People with Mental Disabilities published by the Americ...

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In this episode, Elizabeth Kelley interviews Criminal Defense Lawyer Marcia G. Shein. The two discuss essential components of good mental health evaluations, how an attorney can be particularly sensitive to red flags, and practical aspects for newer attorneys in cases such as these. Attorney ...

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This week Elizabeth Kelley talks with her guest, Professor Lucy Guarnera. The two discuss when a criminal defense lawyer should consider criminal responsibility as a defense, resources for finding mental health experts, and critical components of a thorough forensic evaluation.

...

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This week Elizabeth Kelley talks with her guest, Dr. Eric Drogin, the author of the first chapter in the second edition of her book, ‘Representing People with Mental Disabilities: A Practical Guide for Criminal Defense Lawyers.’

 

 

 The two discuss clar...

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This week Elizabeth Kelley talks with her guest, Professor Larry Dubin. The two discuss the work of helping people on the spectrum navigate “their new world” in the criminal justice system, the boilerplate knowledge that judges and prosecutors need to have in order to competently and humanely handle these...

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This week Elizabeth Kelley talks with her guest, Senator Creigh Deeds. The two discuss the many initiatives he’s championed to relieve some of the flaws in the mental health space and the story that inspired him to take action.

 

 

In this episode, we discuss:

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This week Elizabeth Kelley talks with her guest, Tom Oliver. The two discuss his journey with an early ASD diagnosis, how it has shaped his career and expertise, and the relevant defenses that Tom has proposed to better protect his clients.

 

 

In this e...

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January 8, 2024 26 mins

This week Elizabeth Kelley talks with her guest, Nick Dubin. The two discuss the intersection of autism spectrum disorders and the criminal justice system.

 

 

 

 

In this episode, we discuss:

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August 21, 2023 31 mins

This week Elizabeth Kelley speaks with guest, Dr. Laurie Sperry. The two talk discuss how to better understand autism spectrum disorder, why so many autistic people enter the criminal justice system, and what we can do to make it fair across the spectrum by making the autism m...

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July 10, 2023 28 mins

This week Elizabeth Kelley talks with her guest, Lisa Lawler. The two discuss why she started the White-Collar Wives Project, what they suggest as steps for survival in these cases, and how it relates to mental health issues.

 

 

In this episode, we discuss:

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June 26, 2023 26 mins

Dr. Colleen Berryessa

This week Elizabeth Kelley talks with her guest, Dr. Colleen Berryessa. The two discuss about her expertise in the importance of having an expert involved in criminal cases with people who have autism spectrum disorder, and how neuroscience is used to better un...

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March 19, 2023 28 mins

Thomas Parker

This week Elizabeth Kelley talks with her guest, Thomas Parker. The two discuss the mission of the Lindner Center, what they offer to the mental health community, what their process entails, and why it’s so effective.

In this episode, ...

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February 21, 2023 28 mins

Mary Riggs Cohen, PhD & Dr. Isabelle Hénault

This week Elizabeth Kelley talks with her guests, Mary Riggs Cohen, PhD and Dr. Isabelle Henault. They discuss Autism Spectrum Disorder, the misunderstandings that cause people with ASD to be caught up in...

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February 13, 2023 21 mins

Carol Rose & Lynn Wadsworth

This week Elizabeth Kelley chats with her guests, Carol Rose and Lynn Wadsworth. The three talk about the programs at Red Oak Recovery, its history of strength and hope, and the importance of their customized approach to ...

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Judge Steve Leifman

This week Elizabeth Kelley talks with her guest Judge Steve Leifman. The two discuss the journey to redesign the system to identify and treat mental disabilities with the goal of keeping them out of the criminal justice sys...

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Diana Clark

This week Elizabeth Kelley chats with her guest Diana Clark. The two talk about mental health, behavioral health, and how a behavioral health navigation service provider can assist families struggling with mental health issu...


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