Specialty Courts need to have accurate and objective information about whether participants are abstinent from alcohol and other drugs.  A well designed testing program improves a court’s ability to apply  incentives or sanctions correctly or to adjust treatment and supervision services accordingly. Judge Brian MacKenzie (Ret.) will provide an overview of the best practices for

What are the latest advances in Medically Assisted Treatment and are courts using them?  What are the differernt types of medication and how do they work?  What are the national standards on M.A.T.?  Judge Peggy Hora (Ret.) will address these and other questions during her session of "Using Medication Assisted Treatment in Drug Treatment Courts" at

An effective team has a number of ‘building blocks’ including clear objective, balanced roles and skills.  It must also have good processes for making, communicating, implementing and reviewing decisions. It must have appropriate leadership that creates an atmosphere that allows for experimentation and openness.  JSI CFO Judge Brian MacKenzie (Ret.) will provide an overview of

Cases of judicial discipline are being reported in VTCs for behavior rarely seen in Drug Treatment Courts.  What is the reason for judges acting differently in VTCs?  What should judges be on the lookout for?  Judge Peggy Hora (Ret.) will address these and other questions during her session of "Ethical Landmines in VTCs" at the

JSI Chief Operating Officer, Judge Brian MacKenzie (Ret.) will discuss Evidence-Based Sentencing issues specific to DUI/Traffic Courts at the 2018 Illinois Judges seminar in Chicago, Illinois. Furthermore, they intend to have an interactive simulation on access to justice challenges that is intended to encompass questions of procedural fairness followed by a panel discussion.  Judge MacKenzie will be part of

JSI President Judge Peggy Hora (Ret.) will address those in attendance at the 6th World Forum Against Drugs. The 6th World Forum Against Drugs will be held in Gothenburg Sweden, May 14-16, 2018 under the patronage of H.M. Queen Silvia of Sweden. During a session on the recovery initiated from the criminal justice system, Judge Hora

Judge Peggy Hora (Ret.), President of JSI, will be lead faculty in the National Judicial College’s course “Drugged Driving Essentials.” Summary Unlike alcohol-impaired driving, drugged driving has no bright line test for impairment. Drugged driving cases require a judge to utilize a variety of judicial tools to effectively adjudicate these cases. In addition to the ability

JSI President Judge Peggy Hora (Ret.)  will present a workshop on trauma for Oklahoma judges through the Deptartment of Mental Health & Substance Abuse Services on Aug.  3 in Oklahoma City.

JSI President Judge Peggy Hora (Ret.), Vice President David Wallace and JSI COO Judge Brian MacKenzie (Ret.) will speak on the Right to Counsel.  The Sixth Amendment guarantees the right to legal counsel at all significant stages of a criminal proceeding starting with a defendant’s first appearance in court. This right is so important that