Award Information
Description of original award (Fiscal Year 2009, $100,000)
The purpose of the Capital Case Litigation Initiative (CCLI) is to provide high-quality training and technical assistance on death penalty issues to judges and attorneys who litigate death penalty cases. This program focuses on ensuring quality representation and reliable jury verdicts. The goals of CCLI are to increase the number of capital litigation attorneys trained in death penalty cases, and to ensure that defense counsel, prosecutors, and judges have the most up-to-date and comprehensive information available to them on death penalty litigation. The University of Texas ' Austin will utilize the 2009 BJA Solicited funds to implement Defense Initiated Victim Outreach (DIVO) training within the State of Texas. DIVO has emerged as an effort to facilitate access between survivors and capital defense teams. Having contact with the defense allows survivors to consider the full effects of capital proceedings and punishment upon themselves, as well as, upon the accused.
This grant will make DIVO accessible in Texas via two training sessions for defense attorneys, two training sessions for prosecutors, and two training sessions for a combined group of defense attorneys and prosecutors. Also, a curriculum for defense attorneys, prosecutors, and the combined group will be developed. Participants will learn the principles and process of implementing DIVO. The University of Texas ' Austin will work in collaboration with the Texas Defender Service to implement said trainings.
CA/NCF