Goals

Within three years, the Law and Neuroscience Project hopes to accomplish most or all of the following goals:

(a) Three Major Conferences: The central office will arrange one major public conference each year, starting in the Spring of 2008. These conferences will attract international participation and media coverage and might lead to published collections of articles.

(b) Three Monographs or Collections: If possible, each network will produce a monograph or a collection of articles, as appropriate, on its topic: diminished brains, addiction, and decision-making.

(c) Neuroscientific Discoveries Relevant to Law: Starting in year 2, the Project will fund research will lead to scientific publications and increase our knowledge of issues relevant to the topics of the three networks.

(d) A Primer for Judges: A primer on neuroscience for judges and practicing lawyers that provides the necessary neuroscientific background for cases that are likely to arise. The primer will probably include chapters on functional neuroanatomy, the uses and limits of different kinds of brain scans, experimental designs and what they can and cannot reveal, the basic law of responsibility, the basic law of evidence, and then applications to the neuroscience of addiction, psychopathy, impulsivity, lies, prejudice, memory, and so on. This volume will be useful for judges who need a quick reference source when these issues arise in their courts, but it will also be written to be accessible to the general public and to scholars who want to gain the background they need in order to begin working in law and neuroscience.

(e) Course Materials: A textbook and syllabi for law school courses law and neuroscience, based on experience teaching such courses.

(f) Website: The Project's website will include bibliography, discussions of recent developments, and other aids for anyone doing research in this area.

(g) Retreats: The Education and Outreach program will arrange 3 weekend retreats per year for about 20 judges, lawyers, legislators, reporters, and opinion leaders to learn the basics of neuroscience and applications to law.

(h) Recommendations for Reforms: When appropriate, the Research Networks will eventually develop recommendations for judicial guidelines in handling neuroscientific evidence, ethical guidelines concerning proposed treatments, and legislation regarding criminal responsibility of addicts and psychopaths.