Discovering the Stories Discovering the Stories Miller v. Alabama Miller v. Alabama

Invites us to TellInvites us to Tell

Juliet Yackel Juliet Yackel Attorney & Capital Mitigation SpecialistAttorney & Capital Mitigation Specialist

Shayla & DeVonnaShayla & DeVonna Ages 14 & 15 Ages 14 & 15

Most DamagedMost DamagedCommitCommit

Most Serious CrimesMost Serious Crimes

BrainBrain

DevelopmeDevelopmentnt

++

IndividualIndividual

MH IssuesMH Issues

Looks can be DeceivingLooks can be Deceiving

““Cloak of Competence”Cloak of Competence”

Clients “Look Normal”Clients “Look Normal”““Seem Normal” in jail meetingsSeem Normal” in jail meetingsPretend to UnderstandPretend to UnderstandPhenomenon of masking & passingPhenomenon of masking & passing

Expert Expert EvaluationsEvaluations

Beware of prior “drive-by” Beware of prior “drive-by” evaluationsevaluations

Need accurate, corroborated Need accurate, corroborated opinionopinion

3 generations of history3 generations of history

Immediate FamilyImmediate Family

Patrick Sherri

Timothy Steven Sean

4 Generations4 Generations

Susie Melody

JeffRobert Michael

John Tina Roberta

John BrittSherri

BerthaCharles

Britt EdithJane Marvell

Mary JaneMichael Mark

Steven SeanTimothy

Pansy John

Marlow

Tommy Heather

““Creating a competent and Creating a competent and reliable mental health reliable mental health evaluation…is a evaluation…is a time-time-

consumingconsuming and and expensiveexpensive process…process…

Counsel must compile Counsel must compile extensive historical dataextensive historical data...”...”

Commentary, ABA Guideline 4.1Commentary, ABA Guideline 4.1

Miller v. AlabamaMiller v. Alabama Lack of maturityLack of maturity More vulnerable to negative More vulnerable to negative

influences influences family, peers, environmentfamily, peers, environment

Character not as well- Character not as well- formedformed possibility for change, rehabilitationpossibility for change, rehabilitation

Where & HowWhere & How

to Lookto Look

Go Beyond Go Beyond ClientClient

For InformationFor Information

Columbia Training Columbia Training SchoolSchool

Englewood High SchoolEnglewood High School

Rules of the RoadRules of the Road

Standard of Care

ABA Guidelines for the Appointment & Performance of Defense Counsel in Death Penalty Cases

Supplementary Guidelines for the Mitigation Function of Defense Teams in Death Penalty Cases

Key PrinciplesKey Principles3+ generations: records 3+ generations: records

Multiple in-person, one-on-one, Multiple in-person, one-on-one,

face-to-face interviewsface-to-face interviews

Culture, Community & Culture, Community & InstitutionsInstitutions

The ForgottenThe Forgotten

&&

The UnspeakableThe Unspeakable

Break Down BarriersBreak Down Barriers

Common Common BarriersBarriers

ShameShameFearFearguiltguiltEmbarrassmentEmbarrassmentMental IllnessMental Illness

Jogging MemoriesJogging Memories

&&

Earning the Right to Earning the Right to Hear the StoriesHear the Stories

Unlocking Unlocking MemoriesMemories

PhotosPhotosContact visits with key Contact visits with key

personspersonsArtifactsArtifacts JournalsJournalsYearbooksYearbooks

Discover the Discover the StoryStory

&&

The BackstoryThe Backstory

Initial InterviewInitial Interview

One on One, Multiple One on One, Multiple InterviewsInterviews

Face to Face, In PersonFace to Face, In Person

Why One on One, Face to Why One on One, Face to Face?Face?

Build trust & rapportBuild trust & rapportSubtle cues Subtle cues Environment & NeighborhoodEnvironment & NeighborhoodReleasesReleasesPhotos, records, certificates, Photos, records, certificates,

trophiestrophies

Multi-Generational Records Multi-Generational Records

to Collect to Collect Birth, & deathBirth, & death Marriage & divorceMarriage & divorce MedicalMedical PsychiatricPsychiatric MilitaryMilitary Criminal historyCriminal history Social security earnings & SSISocial security earnings & SSI SchoolSchool Alcohol/drug addictionAlcohol/drug addiction

Absent Absent Biological Biological ParentsParents

Remote & Remote & Estranged Estranged Family Family MembersMembers

ADOPTIONADOPTION

Genetic Genetic predispositionspredispositions

Pregnancy & Pregnancy & deliverydelivery

Possible ThemesPossible Themes Mental Illness: Mental Illness: undiagnosed, untreated, improperly treatedundiagnosed, untreated, improperly treated

Abuse:Abuse: sexual, mental, physical, emotional sexual, mental, physical, emotional

Damaging Developmental Factors & DOJ Risk Damaging Developmental Factors & DOJ Risk FactorsFactors

Corruptive InfluencesCorruptive Influences:: family, peers, community family, peers, community

Systemic Failure:Systemic Failure: schools, social services, courts schools, social services, courts

Capacity for Rehabilitation & Concrete Capacity for Rehabilitation & Concrete Release PlanRelease Plan: treatment, placement, supports: treatment, placement, supports

Where They Are NowWhere They Are NowDeVonna:DeVonna:Mother, hairdresser in Las VegasMother, hairdresser in Las Vegas

Shayla: in transitionShayla: in transition