Mainstreaming a Therapeutic Jurisprudence Approach to Impaired Driving
Mainstreaming a Therapeutic Jurisprudence Approach to Impaired Driving Driving while impaired (DWI) by alcohol or other drugs is an international problem. Far too many people lose their lives, are injured or injure others while engaging in this totally preventable crime. Some countries have a stronger ethic about not drinking and driving than others but it
Developing Phases in Drug/DWI Courts
Developing Phases in Drug/DWI Courts Why have phases? Virtually all adult drug courts and DWI courts have phases to provide structure for the program and recognize benchmarks along the way to graduation. Drug/DWI Courts tend to be long, rigorous programs, lasting one to two years. Giving the program structure gives the participant bite size pieces
According to the Pew Research Center, 68% of Americans have smartphones and 45% have tablet computers. Along with smart phones and tablets come apps – apps that keep track of airline reservations; apps that count calories; apps that fetch drivers. There’s an app for just about anything. A new set of apps have been developed
Can Judicial Compassion Be Unethical? Justice Speaks Podcast Veterans’ Treatment Courts Two months ago something happened that has been bothering me ever since. A judge in North Carolina sentenced a man to 24 hours in jail then joined him in the cell for the night. District Court Judge Lou Olivera is a veteran of the
Alcohol-Impaired Driving: High Tech Approaches to Prevent It
High Tech Approaches to Prevent Alcohol-Impaired Driving When was the last time you heard a hostess say, “Have one for the road”? Decades, right? However, in the 50’s and 60’s it was a host’s or hostess’s duty to make sure their guests had plenty to drink with little regard for the consequences. Fast forward to
Alcohol Monitoring: A Vital Part of Probation – Justice Speaks Podcast Crime and Substance Abuse are Linked The link between substance abuse and crime is clear. About 90% of criminal cases have involvement of alcohol or other drugs. Because of this link, it is not unusual for abstinence to be a requirement for release on
Judges and Drugged Driving
Judges and Drugged Driving As you sit on the bench in a criminal court you see impaired drivers every day. You try to make a reasoned judgment in split seconds about the public safety risk presented by these drivers. You detain, set bail, or agree to leave them on their own recognizance based on your
Alcoholics Anonymous and the First Amendment – Justice Speaks Podcast Are you involved with the criminal justice system? Do you expect defendants to attend Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) or Narcotics Anonymous (NA)? Then this podcast is for you. Alcoholics Anonymous or Narcotics Anonymous as Conditions It is not uncommon for judges, probation officers or treatment providers to order
The Baby Addict Myth
The Baby Addict Myth In the 1980s and 1990s it was “crack babies.” Now it’s babies born “addicted to opiates.” We’ve spent 30 years trying to debunk the myth that newborns can be born “addicted” but the misinformation continues with current headlines like “Life begins with agony of withdrawal for opiate-addicted babies.” Over ten years
What About “Medical Marijuana”?
What About “Medical Marijuana”? “Lies, damned lies and statistics” is a phrase sometimes attributed to Benjamin Disraeli but certainly popularized by Mark Twain. I would add to that “lies, damned lies and scientific studies.” As discerning readers know, not all studies should be given equal weight and some are more reliable than others. The funding source
