Case Development and Procedures – DITA II
Wednesday, January 21 through Sunday, January 25, 2009

Allan Hancock College, Lompoc Center Lompoc, California

Offered in conjunction with Allan Hancock College

The Defense Investigators Association is proud to again present the first college- accredited training specifically designed for professional criminal and juvenile defense investigators. The training program for this Academy, the second of four college-accredited classes leading to the Certificate in Criminal Defense Investigation is presented by the D.I.T.A. committee, a subcommittee of the D.I.A. Students completing the entire D.I.T.A. program of 120 hours of instruction will earn a Certificate in Criminal Defense Investigation and eight units of college credit. Students must earn a grade of C or better in all four of the classes in order to complete the certificate program, but each class in the series is a worthwhile learning experience in its own right. Each class earns the student two units of college credit and provides college level training on specific areas of criminal and juvenile defense investigations. Students may take the four classes in any order and the DIA encourages students to begin the classes now. Each class includes thirty to thirty-five hours of classroom instruction.

Case Development and Procedures includes study of the rules of evidence, confessions and admissions, rules of court, penal code and other sources of law, dependency law, delinquency law and procedures, admissibility of evidence, search and seizure, motions, investigating police misconduct, Pitchess Motions and officer credibility, subpoenas, records and resources, locating witnesses, photography and shaken baby investigations. These classes are much more rigorous than any the D.I.A. or other defense organization has done in the past and students will complete a final examination on Sunday morning. Students will also be required to complete pre-class reading assignments. Faculty may require additional assignments as they deem appropriate during the class week.

Registration will take place from 11:00 a.m. to 1:45 p.m. on Wednesday, January 21 followed by orientation and the first class beginning promptly at 2:00 p.m. The D.I.A. will host a reception beginning at 7:00 p.m. Class resumes the next day at 8:00 a.m. and will run daily through Sunday. Students are required to attend every class.

The D.I.A. is again addressing the need for professional training that is as fully accredited as that provided for peace officers and District Attorney investigators throughout the state and is committed to providing this quality training at the lowest possible price. The fee of $275.00 for this class includes all materials, instructional fees, all conference expenses, and some (but not all) food and beverages will be provided as part of the Academy.

Registration

Pre-registration is required. Students wishing to attend must complete the registration form included in this announcement and send it along with fee payment to the address listed on the registration form. Registration materials and necessary documents needed to complete your registration will be available from 11:00 a.m. to 1:45 p.m. on Wednesday, January 21. Orientation and the first class start promptly at 2:00 p.m. Students need to be in Lompoc in plenty of time to check into their hotel rooms, complete registration and be ready for class at 2:00 p.m.

A list of our faculty members, numbering more than eighteen professionals, is included in this announcement. The faculty comprises well-respected individuals who are giving their time to teach at D.I.T.A., the first program of this kind in the United States. We anticipate another stimulating and educational experience in Lompoc, and look forward to seeing you there. Students who have completed any of the series of classes and who wish to acquire the Certificate in Defense Investigation must complete this class. For those interested in obtaining the certificate and who have not taken any of the series, you should sign up now.

THE EMBASSY SUITES HOTEL

The conference site is the Lompoc campus of Allan Hancock College. Rooms have been blocked at The Embassy Suites Hotel located in the bucolic city of Lompoc through December 31, 2008. The hotel has set special conference rates that include breakfast and an evening reception of cocktails, drinks and light hors d’oeuvres each day for $129 single/double, $139 triple, $149 quads. When you call to reserve your room, be sure to mention that you will be there for the D.I.A./D.I.T.A. training. Their telephone number is (805) 735-8311. We encourage you to visit the hotel’s web site at www.lompoc.embassysuites.com. Please be sure to make your hotel reservations because DITA staff will not make these reservations for you. Lompoc is located off Highways 1 or 246, and is accessible by automobile, Amtrak, and air (Santa Barbara or Santa Maria Airport).

WHAT DO I BRING TO SCHOOL?

The class you will be attending in Lompoc is a college-level course, and as in any college course, you will need to come prepared to take notes and organize materials that you will receive. During the thirty hours of classroom time, you will take notes, complete a multiple choice exam and write essays based upon the search and seizure class. Some materials will be posted on the DIA/DITA e-group website. Be sure to read the materials before you come to class as you will not have time to do that during the classes and you will need the information to participate fully. When you sign up for the class, your e-mail address will be added to the mailing list and you will receive notification of any materials posted on line. Therefore, it is important that you check your e-mail routinely once you have signed up for the class. Materials may be posted on-line anytime up to a week before the beginning of class. If for some reason, you cannot utilize e-mail, please indicate that on your application form so other arrangements can be made for you to receive class materials in advance of the session.

LAPTOP COMPUTERS/PRINTERS If you have a lap top computer, bring it with you. Be sure to charge the batteries in advance, because you may not be able to plug it in during the class sessions. If you have a printer that you can transport easily, you may also find that useful. DITA YAHOO GROUP

As a DITA student, you will need to enroll in the DIA-DITA yahoo group. Faculty use the group site to post cases and other reading that will be required for this class. If you are not a member of the site, be sure to send us your e-mail address so we can add you to the web site list. Changes and additional information will be posted on the web page. Meanwhile, you can subscribe to the list and participate in the group now by sending an e-mail to http://groups.yahoo.com/group/DIA-DITA/join. After you send your e-mail to this address, you will receive a return response from the group moderator, so watch for the return and follow instructions to join.

A PARTIAL LIST OF FACULTY

Michael McMahon, Chief Trial Deputy, Ventura County Public Defender; Jose Varela, Assistant Public Defender, Marin County; Kathleen Sakoguchi, C.C.D.I., Investigator, Orange County Associate Public Defender Office; Bart Sheela, Senior Deputy Alternate Public Defender, San Diego County; Mary Ellen Attridge, Supervising Attorney, Alternate Public Defender, San Diego County; Matthew Brainard, Deputy Public Defender, San Diego County Public Defender; Sheila Klopper, C.C.D.I., Private Investigator, Klopper Investigations, San Jose; Francie Koehler, C.C.D.I., Private Investigator, Special Circumstances, Oakland; Greg Paraskou, Public Defender, Santa Barbara County Public Defender; Jerry Maya, C.C.D.I., Investigator, Alameda County Public Defender, Oakland; Toni Blake, Jury Consultant and Shaken Baby Defense Expert, San Diego; Tim Chandler, Alternate Public Defender, San Diego County Alternate Public Defender.

structional materials, workshops, all D.I.A. academy activities, and some food.

Class space is limited to 65 students maximum. Only the first 65 registrations received are guaranteed a seat and no walk-ins will be accepted. You must be one of the 65 to send in your registration to be guaranteed a seat. Once the class is filled, we can accept no other registrations or walk-ins. Payment must accompany this form. If your employer is paying your conference fees, and the employer’s check is not available at the time your form is submitted, your employer’s payment must be received prior to the class commencing and your seat will not be guaranteed until payment is received by DITA.

CANCELLATION POLICY: Cancellations received after January 2, 2009 will be subject to a 30% cancellation fee. No refunds will be made for cancellations made after 5:00 p.m., Monday, January 12, 2009. To cancel, call Lawanda Lyons-Pruitt at (805) 346-7510 and write to D.I.T.A. at the address below.

ACADEMY FEE: $275.00

For questions regarding registration, please call Lawanda Lyons-Pruitt at (805) 346-7510 or e-mail DITA at lpruitt@co.santa-barbara.ca.us. Anyone wishing to register after the closing date of January 12, 2009, should telephone Lawanda to see if seats are still available. For questions regarding the session content or the DITA program, please call Lawanda Lyons-Pruitt at (805) 346-7510 or e-mail her at lpruitt@Co.Santa-Barbara.CA.US.
For hotel reservations, call the Embassy Suites in Lompoc at (805) 735-8311 and ask for the special DIA/DITA training rates. Hotel costs are $129 single/double, $139 triple, $149 quads and include breakfast and light evening reception.

Remember to bring your downloaded materials to class.