This book is designed for every attorney who handles criminal cases, regardless of experience with cases involving people who have mental illness or with social justice topics. The concepts in the book are deep enough to provide new insights to those well versed in topics covered, while simple enough that novices can walk away with immediately usable techniques and a conceptual framework for incorporating equitable lawyering into their practice. Finally, a list of tools and resources follows each chapter to support further learning and to address cases at hand. Following the theme of equity, all tools and resources listed are accessible to all attorneys, regardless of financial and resources availability.

Table of Contents

1. Part I: Foundations


2. Scoping the Problem


3. Getting Grounded: Foundational Practice Tips for Recognizing Mental Illness Stigma


4. Part II: How Criminal Justice Professionals Can Help Advance Equity


5. Ethical Pathways to Advocacy


6. Establishing Lawyering Tools for Advance Equity


7. Part III: Equity on Both Sides of the Adversarial System


8. The Role of Prosecutors in Advancing Equity


9. The Role of Defense Attorneys in Advancing Equity


10. Part IV: Advancing Equity Across the Criminal Justice Continuum


11. Intent Criminal Justice Involvement and Pre-Adjudication


12. Post-Adjudication and the Aftermath of Criminal Justice Involvement


13. Special Considerations for Witnesses and Survivors of Crime


14. Part V: Moving from Theory to Action


15. Navigating Authorities to Advance Equity