Professional Development

This course is designed for individuals who want to learn the basics of juvenile court or those who are already experienced in juvenile court prosecution and need a refresher. On the first day, classroom instruction will cover topics such as juvenile investigation, juvenile procedure, and an update on statutory and case law. The second day will consist of a tour of the Cabarrus Youth Development Center, which aims to educate participants on what happens from the start to the end of a YDC Commitment and dispel common myths and misunderstandings.

This program examines the policing within the legal and political framework of Nazi Germany – a journey that eventually turned those who should protect life and liberty into those who intimidated, humiliated, deported, and eventually murdered millions of innocent people. Using historical images and stories from the Holocaust, this course engages law enforcement and prosecutors in a dialogue about the role of law enforcement in today’s communities and the importance of core values in ensuring the integrity and vibrancy of democracy.

This two-day workshop is designed to provide a forum for Chief and Senior Assistant District Attorneys to share ideas and best practices. Assistant District Attorneys must be recommended and approved by their District Attorney. You will not be able to register directly for this course.

If you can try a DWI, you can try anything. We will spend two days picking apart DWI trials in District Court from start to finish, examining all the opportunities and land mines. Attendees will develop a better understanding of issues unique to impaired driving cases and how to properly present them in court. Topics include criminal procedure, stops and arrests, chemical analysis, use of experts, crashes, and checking stations.

This new, two-day experimental learning course unpacks child abuse cases in which jurors struggle to understand the victim’s response to abuse or the science of trauma.  Jurors say “I believe the child” but struggle to convict when faced with complex and confusing responses to abuse.  Expert witnesses in the prosecution’s case-in-chief can have a profound impact on jurors’ ability to process and interpret evidence in a light most favorable to the child victim. This course will provide insight into the types of expert witnesses that can assist the prosecution and provide strategies for presenting this testimony. Attendees will craft and deliver direct examinations of experts and receive feedback from Zero Abuse faculty.

This is a small, interactive course which requires attendance and participation both days. Seating is limited to ensure quality and interaction. After initial registration, we will notify you if you have been accepted.  You will be required to confirm your registration TWO WEEKS prior to this course. If you cannot attend for any reason, please cancel your registration as soon as you know, so that your seat can be given to someone on the waitlist.

NEW for 2025 (and long overdue) this multi-day program will cover the key aspects of investigation and successfully prosecuting controlled substance offenses. Drug offenses account for nearly a third of all North Carolina convictions, and they represent an even larger share of many prosecutors’ workload. This program will examine the law and the challenges that frequently arise in areas such as working with informants, conducting searches, selecting charges, navigating discovery requirements, negotiating pleas and securing cooperation, understanding lab results, and explaining it all to a jury.