Accountability courts are multidisciplinary teams working together towards common goals generally focused on enhancing public safety and supporting the recovery of justice involved populations with behavioral health issues. Outside of the Accountability Court team concept, the participating disciplines have not worked in collaboration before, and consequently, teams may struggle with cohesiveness and efficiency. At this point, almost 40 years after the creation of treatment courts, common problems and barriers to effectiveness have been identified, as have solutions. Presented by Chief Mack Jenkins (Ret.) this session will cover the stages of team development, role clarification, and best practices to achieve and sustain team effectiveness along with interactive participant role-playing. 

SESSION OBJECTIVES 

 1. Review basic concepts of Accountability Court functioning.
 2. Review Accountability Court team roles.
 3. Identify the stages of team development.
 4. Identify barriers to team functioning and strategies to address them.
 5. Discuss pre-court staffing fundamentals. 

Since the emergence of the treatment court model in 1989, a substantial body of research has examined both treatment courts and the populations they serve. This research has identified key factors associated with criminal behavior, recidivism, and effective interventions. Studies consistently demonstrate that treatment courts can reduce recidivism and support meaningful behavior change when research-supported practices are implemented with fidelity.

Presented by Chief Mack Jenkins (Ret.), this session will highlight those evidence-based practices and translate the research into practical, actionable strategies for use in treatment and recovery court settings. Topics will include effective case planning, collaboration with treatment providers, responding to participant behavior, and leveraging community resources to support long-term success. 

Objectives:

 1.  Attendees will learn factors associated with criminal recidivism
 2.  Attendees will learn research supported seven practices of community supervision
 3.  Attendees will learn methods of incorporating Core Correctional Practices into supervision
 4.  Attendees will learn practical steps for implementing best practices while a part of an interdisciplinary team
 5.  Attendees will learn the role of case planning in implementing best practices for supervision.

Courts increasingly supervise individuals receiving medications for opioid use disorder, yet judges must walk a fine line: ensuring provider reliability and treatment quality while respecting medical autonomy. This session offers a clear framework for judicial oversight that protects participant safety, strengthens accountability, and avoids improper interference in clinical decisions. Presented by Judge Brian MacKenzie (ret.), participants will learn how to evaluate provider practices, establish communication expectations, and address concerns about dosing, adherence, or treatment changes without stepping into the role of a physician.

Objectives:    

 1. Distinguish between appropriate judicial oversight and actions that constitute impermissible medical decision-making. 
 2. Develop effective communication and reporting standards for MOUD providers that support transparency, participant accountability, and court integrity.
 3. Apply practical strategies for addressing provider performance issues, treatment disputes, and participant concerns while maintaining evidence-based and ethically sound boundaries.

Judges play a central role in ensuring that individuals in the justice system have access to effective treatment, yet MOUD raises distinct ethical challenges. Courts must promote evidence-based care without directing clinical decisions, endorsing specific medications, or exerting pressure on providers. Presented by Judge Brian MacKenzie (Ret.), this session clarifies the ethical boundaries that apply when courts interact with treatment professionals, address participant concerns, or craft supervision conditions involving MOUD. Participants will learn how to maintain judicial neutrality while still championing practices that improve outcomes and save lives

Objectives:          

 1. Distinguish between appropriate judicial advocacy for evidence-based treatment and actions that cross ethical boundaries or resemble clinical direction. 
 2. Apply ethical principles when communicating with MOUD providers, responding to treatment disputes, and setting supervision conditions. 
 3. Develop courtroom practices that promote transparency, fairness, and participant autonomy while ensuring consistent access to clinically appropriate medication.

Since the emergence of the treatment court model in 1989, a substantial body of research has examined both treatment courts and the populations they serve. This research has identified key factors associated with criminal behavior, recidivism, and effective interventions. Studies consistently demonstrate that treatment courts can reduce recidivism and support meaningful behavior change when research-supported practices are implemented with fidelity.

Presented by Chief Mack Jenkins (Ret.), this session will highlight those evidence-based practices and translate the research into practical, actionable strategies for use in treatment and recovery court settings. Topics will include effective case planning, collaboration with treatment providers, responding to participant behavior, and leveraging community resources to support long-term success. 

Objectives:

 1.  Attendees will learn factors associated with criminal recidivism
 2.  Attendees will learn research supported seven practices of community supervision
 3.  Attendees will learn methods of incorporating Core Correctional Practices into supervision
 4.  Attendees will learn practical steps for implementing best practices while a part of an interdisciplinary team
 5.  Attendees will learn the role of case planning in implementing best practices for supervision.