This Justice Speaks episode examines how treatment court data supports accountability, credibility, and growth nationwide. Dr. Kristen DeVall of the National Treatment Court Resource Center discusses research, national tools, and collaboration that help treatment courts move beyond anecdote and strengthen evidence-based decision making across all c...

What courts call “AI” is rarely intelligent—and never neutral. This article explains the different AI systems used in the criminal justice system, how they work, and why understanding those differences matters before relying on their outputs....

Artificial intelligence is already embedded across justice system operations, shaping outcomes long before judicial review. This article introduces the Hardwiring Justice series, arguing that AI governance in the justice system must come before entrenchment. Courts must assert transparency, accountability, and institutional oversight to ensure tech...

In this episode of Justice Speaks, Justice Elizabeth Clement, President of the National Center for State Courts, examines judicial independence and the future of state courts. Drawing on her experience as Chief Justice of the Michigan Supreme Court, she discusses court leadership, public trust, and preparing courts for emerging challenges....

Real justice reform depends on the people who do the work. This article explains why practitioners—judges, probation officers, law enforcement, and treatment providers—offer the most accurate understanding of what makes treatment courts effective. Their daily experience, grounded in evidence and accountability, provides the clearest roadmap for imp...

As autonomous AI systems increasingly influence high-stakes decisions, questions arise about whether new liability frameworks are needed. This article explains why traditional negligence law already provides a workable structure for assigning responsibility among AI developers, deployers, and users, even when systems act with partial independence....

Artificial intelligence is entering treatment courts, influencing how participants seek support and how supervision is delivered. But AI cannot replace therapy, manage crises, or ensure participant safety. Treatment courts must adopt clear policies that establish AI as a supplemental tool while preserving the human-centered treatment that defines t...

Judicial ethics are the backbone of every problem-solving court. The Howard County case shows how quickly credibility collapses when a judge abuses authority, blurs boundaries, and humiliates participants. This failure didn’t just harm individuals—it destabilized the therapeutic purpose of treatment courts and revealed how essential ethics are to s...

AI is reshaping the justice system, offering both promise and peril. Courts face the challenge of adopting these tools without compromising fairness or transparency. This article outlines the essential guardrails for judicial use of AI, ensuring technology strengthens—not supplants—the rule of law....

As Justice Speakers Institute celebrates its 10th anniversary, Vice President Cynthia Herriott reflects on advancing public safety through leadership, trust, and innovation. Drawing from decades in law enforcement, she champions training that bridges communities and strengthens ethical, effective policing worldwide—defining JSI’s next decade of imp...