The UGA School of Law will host the inaugural Wilbanks Child Endangerment and Sexual Exploitation Clinic Conference Jan. 28.
The daylong conference will bring together legal experts, psychologists and child advocacy leaders from across the country to discuss important issues related to child sexual abuse and those professionals who assist them.
Panel discussions will examine the intersection of civil, criminal and juvenile courts in child sexual abuse cases; trauma/compassion fatigue for those representing child sexual abuse survivors; and understanding the psychology of child sexual abuse and using experts effectively.
The keynote address will be delivered by Ross Cheit, a Brown University professor and author of The Witch-Hunt Narrative: Politics, Psychology, and the Sexual Abuse of Children, published by the Oxford University Press.
Other speakers include Marlan B. Wilbanks, a 1986 Georgia Law alumnus; Peter Janci, a partner with the law firm Crew Janci; and Paul Mones, an advocate for survivors of child abuse who has obtained tens of millions of dollars in verdicts and settlements for his clients from entities such as the Boy Scouts of America.
As part of the conference, the documentary film Off the Record: Justice Denied to Child Sex Abuse Survivors will have its debut showing, which will be followed by a question-and-answer session with filmmakers Valerie Gibson and Neil Jaffee.
For more information and to register for the conference, visit https://t.uga.edu/2Ut before Jan. 24. Registrations will be taken thereafter on a space availability basis only. The cost is $75 and includes a light breakfast, lunch, afternoon snack and the documentary premiere dessert reception. For those seeking continuing legal education credits, the cost is $180 for five credits including one ethics hour. Attendance for members of the UGA community is free, but registration is required.