The Law & Mental Health Conference is the premiere online educational event dedicated to the intersection of law and mental illness. Since 2000 the Conference has brought together expert speakers, teachers, and practitioners with legal, clinical, and lived experience. The Conference is designed for attorneys, law enforcement, public and private clinicians, public healthcare and hospital administrators, social workers, policy designers and legislators, and organizations and individuals involved with the care and welfare of people with mental illness, addiction, and alcoholism – and most importantly, for those with lived experience of severe mental illness.
The subject of our June 3-5 conference is ALTERNATIVE RESPONSE TO CRISIS
For our 2025 conference we are partnering with the Alternative Mobile Services Association, The Policing Project at New York University Law School, and the Center for Innovations in Community Safety at Georgetown Law School to produce a hybrid conference on alternative responses to crisis. The in person convening will be at New York University Law School. The online conference will be everywhere.
IMPORTANT DATES
NOW – SPONSORSHIP OPPORTUNITIES for the in person convening in New York City are available now. Contact the conference coordinator for more information.
November 1 – Sponsorship opportunities for the online conference open.
January 2 to February 3 – Early Bird Registeration and Group Rate Registration open – significant savings!
February 3 to May 1 – Registration open.
May 1 to June 1 – Late Registeration open. All registeration closes June 1.
July 31 – Conference evaluation for certificate of attendance due. No certificates will be issued after July 31.
Past Conference Speakers
2024 – Psychosis – Norman Ornstein PhD, Pat Deegan PhD, Paul Appelbaum MD, Nev Jones, PhD, Susan Hatters-Friedman, MD, DFAPA, Rob Wipond, Will Hall, MA, DipPW, Jenae Aesha Richardson, PsyD, Eleasa Sokolski, MD, Neil Gong, PhD, Joanna Naples-Mitchell, JD, Clare Cortright, JD, Apryl Alexander, PsyD, ATSA-F, Lisa B. Dixon, MD, MPH, Judge Maria D. Hernandez, Yvonne Yang, MD, PhD, Sofia Jeppsson, PhD
2023 – Mobile Crisis – Mayor Satya Rhodes-Conway, Rep. Adam Smith, Mitzi Waltz PhD, Jackson Beck and Jason Tan de Bibiana, Felicia Spratt MS LPC, Steve Miccio, Isabelle Lanser PhD, Courtney Tassin LPC, Jamelia Morgan JD, Jordyn Jensen M.Ed, Shondelle Ramsay, Melissa McKee, April Sloan, Che Stedman, Jackie Thomsen MSW, Quinita Garrett LCPC, NCC, Tiffany Patton-Burnside LCSW, Sosunmolu Shoyinka MBA MD, Steve David LSW, Raven Loaiza MSW.
2022 – Civil Commitment – Paul Appelbaum MD, Sarah Vinson MD, Nev Jones PhD, Angela Smith DNAP, CRNA, Cassidy Wilson, Robert Boruchowitz JD, Amanda J. Marshall JD, Phebe Bell MSW, David Cohen MSW, PhD, Jonathan Cantarero JD, Will Hall MA, DipPW, Shoshana Kehoe-Ehlers JD, Janet Hays, Kate Donahue JD, Bob Harris MPP & Bonnie Roy
2022 – Alternatives to Police – Ebony Morgan RN, Moki Macias, Ann Kitchen JD, Dominique Jones MA, LMFT, Jenna Cooper & Dave Thompson, Kenneth “Kensu” Carter MD, Taleed El-Sabawi JD, PhD, Laurel Lisovskis LCSW & Sara Stroo, Kaia Sand, Eric Rafla-Yuan MD, Chief Paul Pazen, Carleigh Sailon LCSW, Mariela Ruiz-Angel MSW & MBA, David Harris, Amy Watson PhD, Ashley Krider MS, Jackson Beck & Jason Tan de Bibiana MSc.
2021 – Impact of Alcohol – Susan Cheever, David H. Jernigan PhD, Joel Ainsworth, Andrew Dyke PhD, Linda L. Chezem JD, Don Coyhis, Paul A. Gilbert PhD, Tiffany Hall, Bruce Lee Livingston MPP, Mike Marshall, Nandita Murukutla PhD, Rebecca Perl, Timothy S. Naimi MD & MPH, Alicia Sparks PhD & MPH, Mike Tobias, Cassandra Tourre MPA.
2020 – Ebony Clarke LCSW, Alison Bort JD & PhD, Joe Biel, Mellani Calvin, Faith Harper PhD, Joseph Green, Suzie Kuerschner MEd, Brian Lindstrom, John Mullin, Anne Larson, Emily Cooper JD, Ivanova Smith, Thaddeus Betz JD, Sgt. Amy King, Melissa Fisher, Bruce Miller MD.
2019 – Bob Joondeph JD, Sandra Luckow, Billy Williams JD, Kevin Rau, Janet L. Holland LCSW, Ellen Ganley, Karen Perdue, Emily Cooper JD, Kim Mosolf JD, Tina Bialas, MA QMHP, CADC III, Anne-Marie Bandfield MSW, Commander Tad Larson, Undersheriff Troy Clausen, Melissa Allison JD, Sarah Radcliffe JD, Professor Aliza Kaplan JD, Mike Marshall, Michelle R. Guyton PhD, ABPP, Alexander Millkey PsyD, Laurie Robertson, Jonathan Meyer JD, J.P. Anderson
2018 – Judge Ginger Lerner-Wren, Judge Pat Wolke, Tamara Sale MA, Leticia Sainz LPC, Bob Joondeph JD, Sarah Radcliffe JD, Eric Martin MAC, CADC III, PRC, CPS, Joan Ayala MSW, Sean Syrek PSS, Edward Jones JD, Judge Heather Karabeika, Judge Cindee Matayas, Sid Moore JD, Rabbi Ariel Stone, Jo Ann Hardesty, Mark Schorr LPC, Cynthia Fowler MD, Jeffrey Howe JD, Mandy Davis LCSW, PhD, Natasha Tracy, Octavio Choi MD, PhD, Sheriff Mike Reese, Chief Deputy Nicole Morrisey O’Donnell, Chief Ron Louie MPA, Chief Pete Kerns, Brian Lindstrom
2017 – Elyn Saks PhD, JD, Libby Stuyt MD, Judge Juliet Britton, Stephanie Maya Lopez MD, Harris Matarazzo JD, Craig Johnson JD, Elena Balduzzi PsyD, Lynn Jones, Alex Bassos JD, Ashlee Albies JD, Kristen Chambers JD, Rev. Dr. T. Allen Bethel, Sheriff Jason Myers, Walt Beglau JD, Ann-Marie Banfield MSW, Judge Kathie Steele, Micky Logan JD, Sarah Radcliffe JD, Bob Joondeph JD, Meg Kaveny LCSW, Brenton Gicker EMT, RN, Juliana Wallace LCSW, Karen James, Chris Farentinos MD, MPH, Freda Ceaser, Janie Marsh, Johnnie Gage, Tonya Jones, Beckie Child, MSW, Doug Querin JD, LPC
Conference Sponsors and Partners for Spring 2022
Center on Behavioral Health and Justice Integration, Cascadia Behavioral Healthcare, Underdog Law Office, Kaiser Permanente, Multnomah County, Molina Complete Care of Arizona, Association of Oregon Community Mental Health Programs, Multnomah County District Attorney, Oregon Council on Behavioral Health, Washington County Behavioral Health, Washington County District Attorney, Bridgeway Recovery Services, Clackamas County Behavioral Division
Conference Sponsors and Partners for 2021
Oregon Health Authority & the Oregon State Hospital, Multnomah County Behavioral Health Division, Kaiser Permanente, Ganapati Fund of the Oregon Community Foundation, Central City Concern, Providence Health & Services, Cascadia Behavioral Healthcare, Association of Oregon Community Mental Health Programs, Virginia Alcoholic Beverage Control Authority, Bridgeway Recovery Services, Northwest Addiction Technology Transfer Center, Rainier Springs Hospital, Health Share of Oregon, Oregon Council for Behavioral Health, Mental Health & Addiction Certification Board of Oregon, Oregon Recovers, Oregon Department of Justice, Alcohol Policy Alliance
Conference Sponsors for 2020
Multnomah County and their Mental Health & Addictions Division, Oregon Health Authority – Oregon State Hospital, Psychiatric Security Review Board, Kaiser Permanente, Oregon Health Science University – Department of Psychiatry, Providence Health & Services, Association of Community Mental Health Providers, Bridgeway Recovery, Cascadia Behavioral Healthcare, Central City Concern, Clackamas County Behavioral Health Division, Health Share of Oregon, Oregon Council for Behavioral Health, Oregon Department of Public Safety Standards and Training, Oregon Public Health Division, Washington County & Washington County District Attorney
Conference Sponsors for 2019
Association of Oregon Community Mental Health Programs, Bridgeway Recovery Services, CareOregon, Cascadia Behavioral Healthcare, Cedar Hills Hospital, Central City Concern, Clackamas County Behavioral Health Division, Clackamas County District Attorney’s Office, Multnomah County Public Health Department & Mental Health & Addictions Service Division, Native American Rehabilitation Association NW, the Oregon Department of Public Safety Standards and Training, the Oregon Health Authority and the Oregon State Hospital, the Oregon Public Health Department, Oregon State Sheriff’s Association, Oregon Aging & People with Disabilities, Northwest Forensic Institute LLC, Psychiatric Security Review Board, Telecare, Washington County District Attorney’s Office.
Conference Sponsors for 2018
Cedar Hills Hospital, Psychiatric Security Review Board, Association of Oregon Community Mental Health Programs, Multnomah County Mental Health and Addiction Services Division (MHASD), Northwest Health Foundation, Columbia Community Mental Health, Mental Health Association of Portland, Central City Concern, Bridgeway Recovery Services, Cascadia Behavioral Healthcare, Clackamas County Behavioral Health Division, Kaiser Permanente Behavioral Health Services, Oregon Public Health Division, Northwest Forensic Institute, LLC, Multnomah County District Attorney, Oregon Department of Human Services Aging and People with Disabilities, The Oregon Center on Behavioral Health and Justice Integration, Serenity Lane, Ainsworth United Church of Christ, Teras Intervention and Counseling, Sequoia Mental Health Services, Disability Rights Oregon, Mental Health Association of Oregon, Northwest Housing Alternatives, Unity Center and Legacy Health, Harris Matarazzo, JD, Philip Shapiro, MD, Clackamas County District Attorney, Columbia County Sheriff’s Office, Oregon State Sheriff’s Association, Washington Count District Attorney
Conference Sponsors for 2017
American Psychiatric Nurses Association – Oregon Chapter, Association of Community Mental Health Programs, Cedar Hills Hospital, Central City Concern, Mental Health Association of Portland, Mid-Valley Behavioral Care Network, Multnomah County District Attorney, Multnomah County Mental Health & Addiction Services Division, NW Forensic Institute, LLC, Oregon DHS – Seniors and People with Disabilities, OHSU Department of Psychiatry, Providence Health, Psychiatric Security Review Board, Unity Center for Behavioral Health