Date: Wednesday, 

September 17

 

The Criminalization of Mental Health
presented by - Decalogue

Join us for a compelling CLE session in the form of a panel discussion led by experts in mental health, law enforcement, and the criminal justice system. This session will explore the full cycle of the criminalization of mental illness—from initial contact with law enforcement to long-term entanglement in the legal system—and how we can intervene to break this cycle.

We’ll examine how individuals with severe mental health challenges are disproportionately affected, often facing arrest for low-level offenses stemming from untreated conditions. Through diverse perspectives, the session will highlight practical solutions and human-centered approaches to create lasting change.

 

Key Perspectives:

  • Law Enforcement – How officers are trained to respond and what alternatives exist

  • Legal Professionals – Legal challenges and opportunities for reform

  • Psychosocial Factors – The role of support systems and community care

  • Lived Experience – Featuring insights from Hinda’s work

Panelists Include:

  • Mark Epstein – Attorney and Session Facilitator

  • Marc Buslik – PhD, Professor of Criminology, Retired Commander, Chicago Police Department

  • Kyle Lappin - Supervisor at the Law Office of the Cook County Public Defender

  • Sergeant Chris Rodriguez – Chicago PD - Crisis Intervention Unit

  • Abby Rabinowitz – Development & Program Coordinator, Hinda Institute

 

The Panelists

 

Marc S. Buslik grew up in one of Chicago's Northshore suburbs and is a retired commander from the Chicago Police Department. He teaches criminology at the University of Illinois Chicago and his research interests are in police accountability and community - police engagement. He was the president of the Police Captains Association and the longest serving president of the Shomrim Society of Illinois, an organization of Jewish first responders.

He works with the NYU Law School Policing Project on their Neighborhood Policing Initiative and Re-Imaging Public Safety efforts. He is a long-time consultant to the US Justice Department and has traveled to former Soviet republics to assist with their transition to democratic policing.

 

Kyle Lappin is a Supervising Attorney in the Cook County Public Defender’s Office, where she oversees the Felony Trial Division’s problem-solving and diversion courts. Her work emphasizes defense strategies that promote alternatives to incarceration and address behavioral health needs. She earned her J.D. with a Certificate in Criminal Law from DePaul University College of Law and her B.A. in Communication Studies from the University of Michigan. She is admitted to practice law in Illinois.

 

Mark Epstein is an attorney at the law firm of Epstein & Epstein, focusing on mental health law, guardianship, and elder law. He earned his undergraduate degree from the University of Chicago and his law degree from Northwestern Law School. Mark has been recognized as a National Endowment for the Humanities Scholar and a Reginald Heber Smith Community Lawyer Fellow. He has also received the Distinguished Service Award from Chicago Volunteer Legal Services. 

He has authored articles for the Illinois Bar Journal and the CBA Record and has litigated significant mental health law cases in Illinois, including the Illinois Supreme Court case that tested the constitutionality of authorized involuntary psychotropic medication. 

Mark has served as an adjunct professor at Northwestern Law School and held leadership roles as the chair of the Illinois State Bar Association Mental Health Law Committee and the Chicago Bar Association Mental Health Law Committee. He has also been a member of The Chicago Bar Association Board of Managers. Additionally, he has participated in various legislative and executive task forces addressing mental health law issues, including as a commissioner of the Governor's Commission to Review and Revise the Mental Health Code of Illinois. 

 

Abigail Rabinowitz is the Program Coordinator at the Hinda Institute, bringing extensive experience in instructional design and project management.

She spent many years working with the RCMP in Canada, where she played a key role in developing and managing educational programs.

In addition to her professional expertise, Abigail brings a strong faith-based Jewish perspective to her work, guiding her compassionate approach to helping those in need. She is passionate about creating impactful, supportive learning experiences that empower individuals and foster personal growth.