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In-Person Training Recorded
LACPD & CPDA Youth Defender Training 2026Date
Saturday, April 25, 2026
Location
Loyola Law School
919 Albany Street (garage parking available)
MCLE Credit
Up to 15 Hours of Participatory MCLE, including 1 hr of Legal Ethics, and 2 hrs of Elimination of Bias
Attorneys — CPDA Members$275
Attorneys — Non-Members$350
Allied Defense Professionals — CPDA Members$150
Allied Defense Professionals — Non-Members$200
Eligible LA County Attorneys & Allied Defense Professionals (LA County covers registration separately)$0
About This TrainingJoin us on April 25th, 2026 at Loyola Law School for a dynamic full-day seminar bringing together youth defense practitioners, advocates, and community voices for a day of learning, reflection, and connection. This seminar is designed to deepen both the practical skills and the human understanding that define effective youth defense work. Throughout the day, attendees will engage with critical and evolving areas of youth law. Practitioners will sharpen their skills, learn from leading experts in the field, and learn how to build a strong, strategic defense team from the earliest stages of a case. This seminar also recognizes that the most powerful youth defense is built on understanding the whole person. Social workers, mitigation specialists, attorneys, paralegals, experts, investigators, and mental health practitioners are essential members of every defense team, and sessions will explore how to integrate their expertise meaningfully from day one. Wherever you are at any stage of your career or advocacy — if you are committed to showing up fully for the young people you serve, this seminar was made for you. Materials for Attendees Are Posted in the MCLE Classroom HereAgenda (subject to change)8:00 AM
Registration & Breakfast
9:00 AM
Welcome & Presentation of the Rigoberto J. Arrechiga Youth Justice Award
Luis J. Rodriguez, Division Chief, Juvenile Services Division, Los Angeles
9:30 AM
Plenary Session — Hoops for Justice
Ilana Parach
10:00 – 11:00 AM | Morning Breakout Sessions (choose one)
Hall of 1970's
Dennis H. and Detention Skills
Yaamini Rao
1.0 Participatory MCLE Hall of 1980's
Defending Youth Charged with Sex Crimes
Dr. Caldwell
1.0 Participatory MCLE Merrifield Hall
Connecting Youth to Higher Education
Panel
ⓘ Panel Details
Donovan Hall
Immigration
Jose Ruvalcaba and Rosario Corona
1.0 Participatory MCLE 11:00 AM
Break
11:15 AM
Plenary Remarks
Father Steve Katsouros, S.J.
12:00 PM
Lunch (Provided)
1:00 – 2:00 PM | Afternoon Breakout Sessions (choose one)
Hall of 1970's
The Law of Unlawful Homicide Simplified Part 1
Tyree Campbell
1.0 Participatory MCLE Hall of 1980's
Competency
Dr. Contreras, Celia Balderrama & Mark Wynn
1.0 Participatory MCLE Merrifield Hall
RJA Update
Brian McComas
1.0 Elimination of Bias MCLE Donovan Hall
You've Been Assigned a Transfer, Now What?: Team Building and Record Gathering
Monique McDavid, Cindy Crippen, Alexi Weden
1.0 Participatory MCLE 2:00 PM
Break
2:15 – 3:15 PM | Afternoon Breakout Sessions (choose one)
Hall of 1970's
The Law of Unlawful Homicide Simplified Part 2
Tyree Campbell
1.0 Participatory MCLE Hall of 1980's
Adolescent Brain Development & General Mitigation Factors (including Transfer)
Dr. Gimel Rogers
1.0 Participatory MCLE Merrifield Hall
The Rights of Youth Held in Facilities
Speakers from Office of Youth and Community Restoration
1.0 Participatory MCLE Donovan Hall
Transfers: Experts, Analysis, and Storytelling Through the Lens of Amenability
Roshell Amezcua and Kelly O'Brien
1.0 Participatory MCLE 3:15 PM
Break
3:30 – 4:30 PM | Afternoon Breakout Sessions (choose one)
Hall of 1970's
Dismissals & Sealing
Jonathan Laba and Raul Arroyo-Mendoza
1.0 Participatory MCLE Hall of 1980's
Identity Formation for Adolescents of Color and Its Role in Transfers
Dr. Gimel Rogers
1.0 Elimination of Bias MCLE Merrifield Hall
Ethics Game Show
Amy Huberman, Clifton Dorsey, Samantha Forbes
1.0 Legal Ethics MCLE Donovan Hall
Beyond the Label — Understanding Youth Gang Involvement
Steve Kim
1.0 Participatory MCLE Conference Organizers La Mer Kyle-Griffiths Division Leader, Training Division · LA County Public Defender's Office ⓘ Bio Jonathan Laba Supervising Attorney, Youth Defense · Contra Costa County Public Defender's Office ⓘ Bio Monique C. McDavid Deputy in Charge, Collaborative Justice & Trainer · LA County Public Defender's Office ⓘ Bio Luis J. Rodriguez Youth Services Division Chief · Los Angeles County Public Defender ⓘ Bio Kelly L. O'Brien Head Deputy, Youth Services South · LA County Public Defender's Office ⓘ Bio Alison Seeger, LCSWMental Health Clinical Supervisor · Los Angeles County Public Defender's Officeⓘ BioDana Boldtⓘ Bio Grecia Alberto, LCSWMental Health Clinical Supervisor · Los Angeles County Public Defender's Officeⓘ Bio Jennifer Reddingⓘ BioMaureen Pachecoⓘ Bio Shelan JosephSpecial Counsel to LA County Public Defender Ricardo Garcíaⓘ BioSonjia D. Whiteⓘ Bio Tawny RuckerParalegal, Training Division · LA County Public Defender's Officeⓘ BioFaculty Raúl Arroyo-MendozaYouth Reentry and Education Attorney · Contra Costa County Office of the Public Defenderⓘ Bio Father Steve Katsouros, S.J.ⓘ Bio Roshell AmezcuaLoyola Law Schoolⓘ Bio Celia Benitez-BalderramaLA County Public Defender's Officeⓘ Bio Michael F. Caldwell, M.S., Psy.D.Emeritus Lecturer · UW–Madison | Senior Staff Psychologist · Mendota Juvenile Treatment Centerⓘ Bio Tyree CampbellLA County Public Defender's Officeⓘ Bio Rosario CoronaImmigration Unit · Los Angeles County Public Defender's Officeⓘ Bio Dr. David Contrerasⓘ Bio Cindy CrippenLA County Public Defender's Officeⓘ Bio Clifton DorseyLA County Public Defender's Officeⓘ BioSamantha ForbesLA County Public Defender's Officeⓘ BioAaron GreeneDirector, Project Rebound · Sacramento State Universityⓘ Bio Amy GhiorsoOffice of Youth and Community Restoration (OYCR)ⓘ Bio Protima PandeyChief Counsel · Office of Youth and Community Restoration (OYCR)ⓘ Bio Ahmed NemrChief, Ombudsperson Division · Office of Youth and Community Restoration (OYCR)ⓘ Bio Alisa HartzOmbudsperson · Office of Youth and Community Restoration (OYCR)ⓘ Bio Amy HubermanLA County Public Defender's Officeⓘ Bio Steven KimProject Kinshipⓘ BioLa Mer Kyle-GriffithsLA County Public Defender's Officeⓘ BioJonathan LabaContra Costa County Public Defender's Officeⓘ Bio Dr. Michael MassaOffice of Youth and Community Restoration (OYCR)ⓘ Bio Brian McComasMcComas LLPⓘ BioMonique McDavidLA County Public Defender's Officeⓘ Bio Crystal NavarroCalifornia Community Colleges Chancellor's Officeⓘ BioKelly O'BrienLA County Public Defender's Officeⓘ Bio Ilana ParachHoops 4 Justiceⓘ Bio Yaamini RaoSanta Clara County Public Defender's Officeⓘ BioLuis J. RodriguezLA County Public Defender's Officeⓘ Bio Dr. Gimel RogersF.I.R.E. Igniting Lives Psychologyⓘ BioJose RuvalcabaLA County Public Defender's Officeⓘ Bio Alexi WedenLA County Public Defender's Officeⓘ BioMark WynnLA County Alternate Public Defenderⓘ Bio Angeles ZaragozaOYCRⓘ BioReserve Your Spot
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