Since the development of the treatment court model in 1989, abundant research has been conducted on the courts themselves and on the populations served in the courts. There has been specific research on factors associated with criminal conduct, criminal recidivism, and effective interventions. Research shows that treatment courts can positively impact recidivism and facilitate behavior change when employing research supported practices with fidelity. This session will review those practices and present practical steps for their implementation in a treatment/Recovery court context. JSI Vice President Chief Mack Jenkins (Ret.) will cover case planning, working with treatment, responding to behaviors and utilizing community resources.

Thirty-three years of operational research on problem solving courts demonstrates that they are effective at reducing recidivism among justice involved populations who are likely to be arrested and have behavior health issues. Prior and concurrent research on individuals with frequent contact in the justice system led to the development of the Risk Need Responsivity or RNR model. JSI Vice President Chief Mack Jenkins (Ret.) will describe how the principles of the RNR model can be incorporated into the operation of treatment courts to improve changes to behavior and reduce recidivism among their populations.

Bias in the admissions process can undermine the fairness and effectiveness of treatment courts, limiting access for marginalized populations. JSI Vice President Chief Cynthia Herriott (Ret.) will examine strategies to identify and address implicit bias during participant selection and admissions. Attendees will explore how systemic inequities impact access to treatment courts and learn practical methods to create more equitable admission criteria. By fostering fairness and inclusion, treatment courts can better serve diverse populations and promote long-term success for all participants.

A significant percentage of accountability court populations suffer from either substance use disorder, mental illness or both. Since the inception of accountability courts in 1989 significant research has been completed on how to better serve individuals in the justice system who suffer from behavioral health issues. That research has been incorporated into the field in the form of interventions, and practices designed to support sobriety and recovery. In particular the informs competencies supervision officers should have practices that should be employed to increase the likelihood of achieving positive outcomes. JSI Vice President Chief Mack Jenkins (Ret.) will cover those competencies and identify best practices supervision officers. Among those practices will be how to work closely with treatment clinicians.

JSI Vice President Chief Cynthia Herriott (Ret.) will offer a comprehensive overview of the essential components needed to establish a Mental Health Court. Participants will learn about best practices for court design, stakeholder engagement, and tailored mental health interventions. The program also covers strategies for addressing the unique challenges that arise in creating a successful, sustainable court system to support individuals with mental health disorders within the justice system.