Page 194 - 2021AprilBOG

criminal justice system. Since then, a resolution drafted and proposed by the Committee was
approved by the LSBA House of Delegates at mid-year meeting, recommending the state
examine the funding structures of other states, create sufficient auditing measures for uniform
financial reporting by criminal justice administering agencies, and collect data to determine
the amount needed to adequately fund the criminal justice system. The recommendations were
made to address the unstable and inconsistent funding structure upon which the state currently
relies to support the Louisiana criminal justice system. Additionally, co-chair Jean Faria
developed and organized two panel sessions at the Mental Health Association of Greater Baton
Rouge annual conference on April 13 to bring awareness to mental health issues and its impact
on defendants in the criminal justice system.

Legal Services for Persons with Disabilities Committee co-hosts virtual training at
Tulane University Law School.
Elena Perez and Dayna Ryan, Co-chairs
The committee met on February 26, 2021 and will meet again on May 20, 2021. At the last
meeting, the Committee continued discussions about operations and issues in light of COVID-
19, including vaccine distributions inside facilities. The Committee worked on identifying
topics for upcoming training opportunities and complementing these trainings with proposed
articles for publication in the Bar Journal. On March 12th, LSPD Committee members co-
hosted (with the Children’s Law Committee) a virtual skills training session with students at
Tulane University Law School where students took turns practicing hypothetical interviews
with people with disabilities. The Committee is working with Loyola University College of
Law to host a similar training in the Fall.

Children’s Law Committee has guest speakers from Orleans Parish District Attorney’s
Office to discuss “Disrupt the School to Prison Pipeline” priorities.
Curtis Nelson and Jesse George, Co-chairs
The committee met on February 24, 2021 and will meet again on May 19, 2021. At the last
meeting, the Committee’s Education Work Group invited the Orleans Parish District
Attorney’s Office to discuss priorities identified during the DA’s “Disrupt the School to Prison
Pipeline” Public Listening Session. The Committee also discussed Children’s Law Award
Nominees and worked on updating the Committee Website with new working groups and
resources. The Committee is continuing to update the Becoming an Adult Brochure to make it
easier to access electronically and is working on outreach to and trainings for university
students. On March 12th, Children’s Law Committee members co-hosted (with the LSPD
Committee) a virtual skills training session with students at Tulane University Law School
where students took turns practicing hypothetical interviews with people with disabilities. The
Committee is working with Loyola University College of Law to host a similar training in the
Fall.