Florida Attorney, Stephen G. Cobb, Invited to Speak on the Intersection between Criminal Defense Law and Neuroscience at Vanderbilt University
Okaloosa County, Florida (PRWEB) October 09, 2014 -- Florida criminal defense lawyer, Stephen Cobb, has accepted an invitation to speak at Vanderbilt University regarding the nexus between law and neuroscience. The invitation was extended by Dr. Owen D. Jones, Professor of Biological Science and director of the MacArthur Foundation Research Network on Law and Neuroscience and his colleague, Dr. Jeffery Schall. The visit will take place on March 16, 2015, and will include Vanderbilt faculty, law students, and psychology students.
Mr. Cobb is a board certified expert in criminal trial law in Florida and has been on the forefront of a movement advocating for the treatment of offenders rather than imposing the traditional punitive model of sentencing. In his practice, he has employed the use of single-photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) to image the brains of his clients. SPECT is a type of imaging technology that can provide 3 dimensional images of a person’s brain and can give insight into any underlying issues that may affect a person’s impulse control or ability to function within society. According to Cobb, not one of his patient-defendants has had a normal-range brain scan, since his firm began employing SPECT imaging technology as part of their standard case protocol in 2005.
In many cases, the use of SPECT can identify brain abnormalities that may be an underlying cause of criminal behavior. Mr. Cobb argues that, by identifying these issues, offenders can obtain effective treatment, ultimately reducing recidivism. Mr. Cobb is highly critical of the criminal justice system's efforts to rehabilitate and prevent future crimes. According to research cited in by the Journal of the American Bar Association, the use of neuroscientific evidence has significantly increased in recent years, most often for mitigation in sentencing and determining a defendant’s competency.
Stephen G. Cobb has been practicing criminal law for over two decades, has litigated over 10,000 criminal cases in Florida and taught evidence at the University of West Florida. Additionally, Mr. Cobb has jointly taught Continuing Legal/Medical Education seminars in Atlanta regarding the use of Single Photon Emission Computed Tomography (SPECT) in the courtroom. His law firm is a world leader in mental health sentence mitigation, and Mr. Cobb has been certified as a criminal law expert by the Florida Bar since 2002.
Janice Richardson, Cobb Law Firm, http://cobblawfirm.com/, +1 850-651-6565, [email protected]
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