The Center for American and International Law (CAIL) has received a new FY2027 grant award from the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals to support a new slate of educational programs through CAIL’s Criminal Justice and Actual Innocence (CJAI) programs.
The grant will support training for defense attorneys, prosecutors, law enforcement professionals and other criminal justice stakeholders, continuing CAIL’s longstanding work to provide practical education focused on strengthening the administration of justice and reducing wrongful convictions.
“This new grant allows us to build programming around both the fundamentals of strong criminal defense practice and the issues practitioners are confronting as the profession evolves,” said Jennifer Martinez, Director of CAIL’s Criminal Justice and Actual Innocence programs.
The FY2027 curriculum includes programs addressing trial advocacy, mental health, capital litigation, ethics, actual innocence and post-conviction practice, law enforcement investigations and emerging technology. Planned topics include opening statements and jury selection, capital voir dire and mitigation, defending child abuse and possession cases, prosecutorial ethics, cross-examination, plea negotiations, mobile-device forensics and digital evidence, and best practices for accurate investigations and reducing wrongful convictions.
Technology will remain an important part of the curriculum, including the third annual Digital Defenders: AI in Criminal Practice, which is expected to examine the growing use of artificial intelligence in criminal practice and the ethical and practical considerations it presents.
Programs are expected to feature experienced practitioners and subject-matter experts who can bring perspectives from across the criminal justice system, including defense and prosecution, law enforcement, mental health, forensic and digital evidence, and other specialized areas relevant to the curriculum.
While dates and faculty for many of the FY2027 programs are still being finalized, the first two programs are already scheduled as live webinars.
46B Expert Evaluations & Testimony in Mental Health, scheduled for November 19, will examine issues involving expert evaluations and testimony under Texas Code of Criminal Procedure Chapter 46B and the role mental health evidence can play in criminal cases.
On December 17, Second-Hand Trauma will address the effects repeated exposure to traumatic cases, evidence and experiences can have on criminal justice professionals, with a focus on wellness and mental health.
Additional program dates, faculty and registration information will be announced as they are confirmed.
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About the Criminal Justice and Actual Innocence Programs at The Center for American and International Law - Established in 2003 and supported by grants from the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals, The Center for American and International Law’s Criminal Justice and Actual Innocence (CJAI) programs advance justice and help reduce wrongful convictions through specialized training for defense attorneys, prosecutors and other justice system stakeholders. Through seminars, workshops and expert-led conferences, CJAI programs address critical issues in criminal justice, strengthens professional practice and supports continued learning across the justice system. For more information, visit www.cailaw.org/Criminal-Justice.
Media Contact
Karla Lárraga, Communications Officer
(972) 244-3436 | klarraga@cailaw.org