Contact Us (253) 820-4455 • julie@lotusmitigation.com
About Lotus Mitigation and Investigation
Lotus Mitigation and Investigation, LLC and Second Chance Advocates, is a licensed and bonded agency that provides defense investigation, mitigation, and sentencing advocacy for federal and state matters. With nearly two decades experience we are recognized as a leader in the industry. Our team of mitigation specialists have specialized backgrounds in the behavioral sciences and social work. We provide a diverse range of mitigation and investigation services to attorneys, government entities, non-profits, and private organizations and individuals.
We are committed to upholding the highest investigative standards. We strongly believe in maintaining a personable, yet professional, approach to every case and take pride in our demonstrated integrity, attention to detail, and work ethic. We are dependable, proficient, and thorough in our work and deliverables. We approach every investigation with sensitivity and compassion and take the time to get to know our clients and understand the story behind the story – not only what happened, but why.
The story of the lotus flower is a powerful metaphor for our clients’ journey to overcome adversity and gain resilience. The meaning of the lotus flower comes from an analogy derived from the flower's life cycle, where all humans are born into a world of suffering and must learn to overcome adversity so they can become a better person. The meaning of the lotus flower holds such power because it is a symbol that shows no matter where you start off in life, and no matter what you are going through, you have the ability to rise above, overcome all negativity, and find serenity as you emerge from your struggles.
Just as the lotus flower symbolizes the power of psychological resistance as the ability to transform adversity into potential, we view each and every client through a similar lens. Despite what a client has done or been accused, or the struggles and adversity they have endured, these things do not define them, but rather we highlight and emphasize their resilience, and their potential for and demonstrated change.
In addition to conducting an exhaustive investigation and gathering all pertinent information we add valuable insight and additional perspectives contributing to the overall case analysis, strategy, theory, case resolution, trial preparation, and post-conviction relief.
Attorneys have put their trust in us since 2005 and we look forward to assisting you with your next case.
Our Team
Julie Armijo, M.S. Forensic Psychology
Mitigation Specialist & Licensed Investigator
julie@lotusmitigation.com
Julie graduated summa cum laude from Arizona State University with a Master’s Degree in Forensic Psychology and a Graduate Certificate in Criminal Sentencing and Sentencing Advocacy. She also has degrees and educational background in criminal justice, forensic science, and business administration. She has been a licensed private investigator since 2005 and began specialized work as a mitigation specialist in 2012. She has also had the unique experience of working within the courts as a judicial assistant for a Superior Court judge. Her caseload has been comprised of serious adult and juvenile felonies, capital cases, 2nd/3rd strike cases, and “life” cases, but her passion and expertise are cases involving youth and young adults, including Miller, Houston-Sconiers, and Domingo-Cornelio/Ali resentencing matters.
The emphasis of her graduate research and studies surrounded neurodevelopmental science and juvenile crime and sentencing. Her graduate studies, in combination with her experience, have substantially trained her to conduct screenings and identify medical, mental health, trauma, substance-related, neurodevelopmental, cognitive, and other disorders, and to assist attorneys with mitigation and sentencing advocacy at all levels of litigation (pre-trial, post-conviction, clemency). By exploring the biopsychosocial life history of her clients, she prepares comprehensive mitigation memorandums and packages; constructs individualized pre-trial release and sentencing plans; and integrates visual storytelling and produces sentencing videos.
Julie demonstrates the utmost compassion, trust, kindness, and understanding with every person she encounters. With her warm nature she has exceptional interpersonal and interviewing skills and the ability to extract sensitive information from clients and witnesses, including children. She is proficient at compiling, analyzing, and disseminating large amounts of information in a concise, logical format. She has established a reputation for always demonstrating professional behavior when dealing with witnesses, colleagues, attorneys, experts, and other individuals.
Julie stays current in the many areas of mitigation and investigation by actively participating in advanced training and maintaining membership with several professional associations. She prides herself in her commitment to her clients and getting to know each one personally in order to provide the best possible advocacy. Her personal passions and professional goals will always be rooted in advocacy for superior, holistic, client-centered defense.
Our Services
Mitigation & Sentencing Advocacy
- Capital & Non-Capital
- 2nd/3rd Strike/"Life" Cases
- Juvenile Matters
- Juvenile Re-Sentencing
- Pre-Sentence
- Post-Conviction
- Clemency
- Pre-Trial Release
Investigation
- State and Federal Criminal Defense
- 71.09 Civil Commitment/LRA
- Civil
- Pre-Trial/Litigation Preparation & Assistance
- Court Testimony
Our Expertise
Mitigation and Sentencing Advocacy
- Produce comprehensive pre-plea and post-conviction mitigation packages, including bio-psycho-social life history, mitigating factors and supporting research and documentation
- Interview clients to gather social history
- Screen clients for signs of medical, mental, neurodevelopmental, psychological, substance abuse or other conditions
- Establish on-going relationships with client, family and collateral witnesses
- Conduct extensive, multi-generational interviews of individuals knowledgeable about the client at every phase of his or her life with the skill and ability to extract sensitive information
- Compile, analyze and interpret anecdotal and documentary evidence relevant to the client’s life history
- Create spreadsheets, summaries, chronologies, maps, genograms and other supplemental/supporting documentation
- Assist with development of mitigation themes and legal strategies
- Witness preparation for court testimony
- Participate in jury selection process
Investigation
- Review & analysis of police reports, discovery, expert reports, records and evidence
- Identify, locate and interview defendants, witnesses, informants, co-defendants, victims, suspects, experts and other relevant parties
- Scene canvassing and documentation
- Prepare discovery summaries, case timelines, witness lists, declarations and affidavits
- Written and recorded interviews and statements
- Prepare detailed and thorough verbal and written investigative reports of statements and findings
- Gather facts, documents and case research
- Seek out, identify, gather and preserve evidence
- Retrieve police and court reports and other documents
- Information research and analysis
- Prepare diagrams, maps and trial exhibits
- Still photography and videography
- Court testimony
