Notes from the National College

By Mary Galvin, Interim Executive Director, National District Attorneys Association and Dean, National College of District Attorneys

I hope you were able to join the National College of District Attorneys, the Education Division of the National District Attorneys Association, for some exciting spring course offerings. We presented the Prosecuting Drug Cases Course March 30-April 3 in Myrtle Beach, South Carlina; the Contemporary Trial Issues Course in Incline Village, Nevada, April 6-10; and Meeting Challenges in Prosecution and Victim Advocacy Course in the Windy City, Chicago, Illinois, April 21-25, 2008. We took advantage of three great cities that all have incredible attractions—the beach, skiing or hiking, and diverse cuisine and top-of-the-line theatre—you name it. We enjoyed substantive presentations from our quality faculty on cutting edge issues that you are tackling daily and also got outside and had some fun.

Interesting topics included: Contemporary Trial Issues (those issues that are in your news headlines daily and you are tackling on your dockets), Eyewitness Memory and Identification Procedures, Computer Forensics, False Confessions, CSI Effect, Witness Intimidation, Meeting Challenges in Prosecution and Victim Advocacy (a multidisciplinary course for prosecutors and advocates who assist the prosecution team), Effective Prosecution Methods for Victims with Disabilities, Forging Positive Communication Among Prosecutors, Advocates and Investigators, Special Victims Resources and Networks, Project Safe Childhood, Vicarious Trauma and Restorative Justice and Victim Advocacy.

As many of you may know, NDAA did not receive our funding for the Ernest F. Hollings National Advocacy Center. Due to this we have tightened our budget at the National Advocacy Center, and we have had to cancel some of our more popular courses. In an effort to accommodate the demand this has created among prosecutors’ offices across the country, we are bringing this excellent hands-on training to regions across the country where we have supportive district attorneys’ offices who would enjoy this type of quality national training at a reduced cost. In keeping with this goal we have added an afternoon of Power Point training and an extra Ethics session at the Prosecuting Drug Cases course. What an excellent opportunity for prosecutors planning on attending this course to add on these extra trainings for a nominal fee, or for those of you who may not have an entire week to take off but are seeking quality hands-on training to join us for an afternoon to fine tune your litigation, ethics or presentation skills.

Please remember these courses are not limited to prosecutors only. Prosecutors are encouraged to bring your prosecution team (prosecutors, investigators, advocates (system-based as well as those you work with in your communities), tech folks who assist in your trial visuals, and local law enforcement you work with on a daily basis).

If you were not able to join us this spring for substantive, quality training from the nation’s best in training America’s prosecutors, visit our Web site at www.ndaa.org, click on NCDA, and look for information on upcoming courses.