As a practical matter, the overwhelming majority of federal criminal cases end in conviction and sentencing. Effective representation in these cases includes effective sentencing advocacy, for the sentencing context is one in which practitioners may be able to most profoundly affect the outcome of a case, and ameliorate the harsh consequences a federal conviction brings to the life of a client. An essential component of effective sentencing advocacy is the development and presentation of mitigation evidence. The majority of the websites listed below were compiled by James Tibensky, Mitigation Specialist of the Federal Defender Program of Chicago, Illinois. Please feel free to recommend additional websites that you have found useful by contacting George Couture. Below are links to websites, categorized by topic, through which practitioners can access mitigation-related statistics, research, data and other information that can assist in developing mitigation evidence in a particular case. Alternatives to Incarceration Center for Community Alternatives, Inc. Information on alternative sanctions and research; consultants Childhood Health/Victimization American Academy of Pediatrics Reference resource on childhood health topics,searchable index to abstracts and full text articles Centers for Disease Control, National Ctr. for Injury Prevention and Control Information on Traumatic Brain Injury Merck Manual Information on childhood health and mental health disorders, mental retardation and intellectual disabilities FASD United The National Voice on Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders Information on Fetal Alcohol Syndrome, Mental Retardation and behavioral impairments; access to Journal articles National Criminal Justice Reference Service Access to studies correlating childhood abuse and violent victimization with violent offending Surgeon General Information on mental disorders in children and adolescents, risk factors, effect of past trauma and childhood sexual abuse, ADHD, treatment strategies Drug and Alcohol Addiction/Treatment Alcohol, Other Drugs, and Health: Current Evidence Latest clinically relevant research on alcohol, illicit drugs, and health Alcohol Screening.Org Alcohol abuse self-assessment too American Academy of Pediatrics Searchable database for topics such as fetal alcohol spectrum disorders,access to abstracts and some full text articles Center for Substance Abuse Treatment Substance abuse treatment facility locator National Institute on Drug Abuse Information and research on drugs of abuse, the science of addiction, research reports, and treatment approaches FASD United The National Voice on Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders Information on Fetal Alcohol Syndrome, Mental Retardation and behavioral impairments; access to Journal articles Substance Abuse & Mental Health Srvs. Admin. U.S. Dept. of Health & Human Services Locate alcohol and drug treatment facilities Treatment Advocacy Center Treatment advocacy with information on consequences of non-treatment on severe psychiatric illness University of Washington School of Medicine Provides information on treatment of fetal alcohol syndrome and secondary disabilities, alcoholism; links to articles and publications Drugs And Medications MedlinePlus Search engine for prescription drug information Medscape Free access to drug reference resource Impact of Incarceration Commission on Safety and Abuse in America's Prisons Information identifying and connecting problems and abuses inside jails and prisons to health and safety of community; access to Confronting Confinement report to Congress (2006) Mental Health Disorders/Cognitive Impairments American Psychological Association Searchable database for publications, journals, psychology topics, treatment facilities American Psychological Association Local Association Directory List and links to state and provincial psychological associations Association for the Treatment of Sexual Abusers Information on sexual offending, evaluation, treatment strategies for reducing re-offense risk; position papers critical of SORNA guidelines, civil commitment; index of journal articles and research Behave.net Complete numerical listing and diagnostic criterion of DSM-IV-TR mental health disorders The Centers for Disease Control, Nat'l Ctr. for Injury Prevention and Control Information on Traumatic Brain Injury Mental Health America Mental health information categorized by race, gender, disorders and treatment; locate treatment providers, organizations, national resources Merck Manual Information on mental health disorders and intellectual disabilities National Center for Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder Starting Point for PTSD research National Institute of Mental Health Information on mental illness and behavioral disorders in children, adolescents, and adults; statistics, research publications, available treatment facilities; link to online medical library FASD United Information on Fetal Alcohol Syndrome, related behavioral impairments, and access to journal articles Surgeon General U.S. Public Health Service Overview of mental illness, anxiety and mood disorders, schizophrenia, depression; assessment, barriers to diagnosis and treatment, risk factors, biological influences, past trauma, types of therapy; identifies racial, cultural, age, and gender disparities in access to services Pendulum.Org Information and resources on bi-polar disorder, a/k/a manic depression, medications and side effects, treatment, and research studies The Arc Useful Organization when working with the mentally disabled Treatment Advocacy Center Briefing papers, legal & medical resources on treatment of mental illness Racial and Ethnic Disparity The Sentencing Project Statistics and reports on racial disparity Records National Center for Health Statistics Centers for Disease Control & Prevention Data on hospital records Vital Check Birth, Death, Marriage Records Sex Offenders Association for the Treatment of Sexual Abusers Information on sexual offending, evaluation, treatment strategies for reducing re-offense risk; position papers critical of SORNA guidelines, civil commitment; index of journal articles and research Center for Sex Offender Management Identifies myths and facts about sex offenders/information on effective management of sex offenders Statistics on Criminal Justice Issues Bureau of Justice Statistics U.S. Dept. Of Justice Data and studies on crime, recidivism, offenders, prosecutions The Urban Institute Federal data on law enforcement, arrests, prosecutions, crimes, type of sentence, incarceration data on offenders entering and leaving federal prison; special research reports and publications U.S. Sentencing Commission Federal sentencing data by state, district, and circuit, Annual Reports and Statistical Sourcebooks Sourcebook of Criminal Justice Statistics Information on crimes, victims, arrests, seizures,courts, prosecution, sentencing, recidivism rates, parole, jails, prisons Violent Victimization National Criminal Justice Reference Service Information and studies on violent victimization as risk factor U.S. Public Health Service Surgeon general report identifying youth violence risk factors The Prevention Institute Information on risk factors/vulnerability to being affected by, or involved in, violence General Mitigation Resources National Alliance of Sentencing Advocates Clearinghouse for mitigation and Mitigation Specialists information Office of Justice Programs DOJ Bureau of Justice Statistics DOJ data and studies on crime, recidivism, offenders, and mental health of prisoners The Sentencing Project Statistics and information on incarceration rates by race; policy reports, briefing sheets, and educational materials on a wide range of criminal justice issues U.S. Sentencing Commission Click on Publications tab for access to sentencing data, annual reports, reports to Congress, research reports on topics such as recidivism, substantial assistance, 15-year study on effectiveness of Sentencing Guidelines in meeting statutory goals
