Justice Speaks Podcast #72

In this episode, Justice Speaks continues its series about the role of State Treatment Court Coordinators focusing on North Dakota treatment courts. This episode is sponsored by Reconnect.

We explore the collaborative treatment court model in North Dakota with two key leaders: Ms. Jess Throlson, Specialized Court Docket Manager for the North Dakota Supreme Court’s State Court Administrator’s Office, and Mr. John Gorde, Program Manager for the North Dakota Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation.

About Jess Throlson and John Gorde

Ms. Throlson shares her beginnings, from joining the ministry to entering the court system. She tells us how her early work with families helped prepare her for her current role managing family, veterans, and adult treatment courts. Her path reflects the strong connection between service, empathy, and leadership within the justice system.

Mr. Gorde shares his background, starting as a highway patrol state trooper before becoming a probation and parole officer. He describes how, in his role as a probation officer, he began to work closely with treatment courts and developed a passion for helping participants transform their lives. Together, they represent a unique cross-agency partnership focused on improving outcomes for individuals involved in treatment and specialty courts.

North Dakota Treatment Courts—Exploring Their Development and Growth

The conversation dives into the structure of North Dakota’s 14 treatment courts—covering both adult and juvenile populations—and the shared funding and staffing model between the courts, the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation, and the Department of Health and Human Services.

Mr. Gorde talks about his experience working with the original six drug courts, now officially called “treatment courts” following a legislative change. Ms. Throlson then discusses how the North Dakota Supreme Court has expanded this model to include juvenile courts, veterans treatment courts, and an additional adult treatment court, reflecting a statewide commitment to evidence-based practices.

They also discuss the development of biannual regional trainings, which they have jointly created. These trainings not only support North Dakota’s treatment courts but also welcome participation from neighboring states, including South Dakota and Minnesota. In addition to these regional trainings, both Ms. Throlson and Mr. Gorde provide ongoing statewide training for individual courts and personnel. These sessions are grounded in the All Rise best practice standards, ensuring consistency and quality across the state.

As we explore how North Dakota is building a system grounded in collaboration and accountability, Ms. Throlson and Mr. Gorde emphasize the importance of working directly with individual courts to ensure adherence to best practices and continuous improvement through evaluation and supervision.

Challenges and the Future of Treatment Courts in North Dakota 

Finally, we examine the progress and challenges facing North Dakota’s treatment courts. Topics include limited access to treatment providers in rural areas, difficulties in coordinating across departments, and the need to expand services to meet the needs of underserved populations. They highlight legislative incentives designed to encourage participant success—such as reduced sentences or case dismissals for program completion—and share their strategic vision for the future of treatment courts in the state over the next decade.

This episode offers valuable insight into how state agencies can collaborate to transform justice through effective, person-centered treatment court models.

We wish to thank Ms. Throlson and Mr. Gorde for sharing their unique experiences working together and for helping reshape the criminal justice system in North Dakota. We also thank Reconnect for sponsoring this podcast episode.