<description>&lt;p dir="ltr"&gt;The criminal legal system often misunderstands—and mishandles—people with intellectual disabilities. Law professor Katie Kronick explains how and why these individuals so often fall through the cracks in a system built around efficiency and rigid rules. She breaks down the stakes with real examples, including a high-profile death penalty case now before the Supreme Court, and shares ideas for building a criminal justice system that recognizes and respects the needs of defendants with intellectual disabilities.&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p dir="ltr"&gt;For more on this topic: &lt;/p&gt; &lt;ul&gt; &lt;li dir="ltr" aria-level="1"&gt; &lt;p dir="ltr" role="presentation"&gt;Read Kronick's &lt;a href= "https://www.supremecourt.gov/DocketPDF/24/24-872/375792/20250924153749002_24-872--Amicus%20Brief%20of%20Professor%20Katie%20Kronick%2009-24%20rtf.pdf"&gt; amicus brief&lt;/a&gt; for the Supreme Court case &lt;em&gt;Hamm v. Smith&lt;/em&gt;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;/li&gt; &lt;li dir="ltr" aria-level="1"&gt; &lt;p dir="ltr" role="presentation"&gt;Check out her essay in the &lt;em&gt;Sentencing Matters&lt;/em&gt; Substack: &lt;a href= "https://sentencing.substack.com/p/why-is-it-so-hard-for-courts-to-adjust"&gt; Why is it So Hard for Courts to Adjust to Advancements in Knowledge of Human Behavior?&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;/li&gt; &lt;li&gt;Read her op-ed in the &lt;em&gt;Baltimore Sun&lt;/em&gt;: &lt;a href= "https://www.baltimoresun.com/2024/06/28/the-criminal-legal-system-is-failing-people-with-intellectual-disabilities-guest-commentary/"&gt;The Criminal Legal System Is Failing People With Intellectual Disabilities&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/li&gt; &lt;/ul&gt;</description>

Scholars Strategy Network's No Jargon

The Scholars Strategy Network

Episode 288: Recognizing Defendants' Disabilities

NOV 18, 202537 MIN
Scholars Strategy Network's No Jargon

Episode 288: Recognizing Defendants' Disabilities

NOV 18, 202537 MIN

Description

The criminal legal system often misunderstands—and mishandles—people with intellectual disabilities. Law professor Katie Kronick explains how and why these individuals so often fall through the cracks in a system built around efficiency and rigid rules. She breaks down the stakes with real examples, including a high-profile death penalty case now before the Supreme Court, and shares ideas for building a criminal justice system that recognizes and respects the needs of defendants with intellectual disabilities. For more on this topic: Read Kronick's amicus brief for the Supreme Court case Hamm v. Smith Check out her essay in the Sentencing Matters Substack: Why is it So Hard for Courts to Adjust to Advancements in Knowledge of Human Behavior? Read her op-ed in the Baltimore Sun: The Criminal Legal System Is Failing People With Intellectual Disabilities