The Kings County Criminal Bar Association (KCCBA), in conjunction with the Brooklyn Bar Association, held a Continuing Legal Education (CLE) seminar on Oct. 4 in Brooklyn Heights. 

The event featured a detailed discussion led by Craig Rothfeld, a recognized authority on sentencing, on the topic “Sentencing Implications from Rikers and Beyond.”

Continuing Legal Education seminars, commonly known as CLEs, are professional education events that keep attorneys and other legal professionals updated on new laws, regulations and skills. They are a requirement for practicing law in several states, including New York.

Craig Rothfeld has a distinguished academic background that includes a Master of Arts in Criminal Justice and a Post Graduate Certification in Criminal Sentencing and Sentencing Advocacy from Arizona State University’s School of Criminology and Criminal Justice. He also earned an MBA from the Leonard N. Stern School of Business at New York University. 

Rothfeld’s professional experience is robust, encompassing comprehensive knowledge of the NYC Department of Corrections and the New York State Department of Corrections and Community Supervision. 

Over the years, he has also built strong relationships with numerous New York City and New York State criminal defense attorneys and has been involved in criminal justice legislation and reform in New York State.

KCCBA President Darran Winslow expressed his confidence in Rothfeld, stating that Rothfeld is his go-to expert on any sentencing-related question. 

Rothfeld’s consulting firm, Inside Outside, advises individuals and their attorneys in the post-indictment phase leading up to plea and sentencing, offering a range of services from detailed analysis of sentencing outcomes to advocacy and liaison work with NYSDOCCS personnel.

The seminar covered key issues around sentencing guidelines and their practical implications, especially in relation to the city’s corrections facilities like Rikers Island.