Treatment Courts Archives - Page 2 of 4 - Justice Speakers Institute

Harm Reduction Needs Guardrails: Balancing Compassion and Accountability

Tuesday, 28 October 2025 by Chief Mack Jenkins

Harm reduction is an essential part of recovery but must not mean a lack of accountability. Drawing lessons from Oregon’s policy challenges, this article explains why treatment courts need structure, incentives, and consequences. True recovery requires compassion paired with meaningful accountability to prevent relapse and promote long-term change.

Published in Incentives and Sanctions in Treatment Courts, Law, Problem Solving Courts

Tagged under: Accountability, Evidence Based Practices, Harm Reduction, Recovery and Justice Reform, Treatment Courts

Opioid Intervention Courts: A Proven Path to Recovery

Tuesday, 12 August 2025 by Hon. Brian MacKenzie (Ret.)

Opioid Intervention Courts offer a life-saving alternative to traditional justice responses by focusing on rapid treatment, overdose prevention, and recovery support. Backed by recent research, this evidence-based model prioritizes health over punishment and helps courts address opioid use disorder more effectively and compassionately.

Published in Law, Medication Assisted Treatment, Problem Solving Courts, Substance Use Disorder, Treatment

Tagged under: Criminal Justice Reform, MOUD, Opioid Intervention Court, Substance Use Disorder, Treatment Courts

Judicial Leadership in Problem-Solving Courts: The Key to Success Worldwide

Tuesday, 29 July 2025 by Hon. Brian MacKenzie (Ret.)

Problem-solving courts offer a transformative approach to justice, focusing on rehabilitation instead of punishment. Research from the U.S. and U.K. shows that strong judicial leadership is essential to these courts’ success, fostering trust, improving outcomes, and breaking cycles of addiction and crime through procedural fairness and participant engagement.

Published in Law, Problem Solving Courts, Procedural Justice

Tagged under: Criminal Justice Reform, Judicial leadership, Problem-Solving Courts, Procedural Fairness, Treatment Courts

Leadership and Innovation in Georgia’s Accountability Courts

Thursday, 12 June 2025 by Justice Speakers Institute

In this episode, Judge Lawton Stephens shares his three-decade journey on the bench, offering insights into Georgia’s evolving accountability courts. From launching drug courts to chairing statewide judicial conferences, Judge Stephens discusses the future of treatment courts and the vital role of compassion and structure in criminal justice reform.

Published in Podcast, Problem Solving Courts, Substance Use Disorder

Tagged under: Accountability Courts, drug court model, Judicial leadership, Justice Reform, Treatment Courts

Bridging the Gap: MOUD Access for People on Probation

Tuesday, 20 May 2025 by Chief Mack Jenkins

People on probation with opioid use disorder face major barriers to accessing medications for treatment. Stigma, policy gaps, and a lack of coordination between justice and healthcare systems make recovery difficult. This blog explores actionable steps to ensure probation becomes a bridge to care—not a barrier.

Published in Medication Assisted Treatment, Substance Use Disorder

Tagged under: criminal justice policy, MOUD access, Opioid Use Disorder, Probation Reform, Treatment Courts

Treatment Court Leadership with Pennsylvania’s Abbey Geffken

Thursday, 08 May 2025 by Justice Speakers Institute

In this episode of Justice Speaks, Abbey Geffken discusses her leadership journey in Pennsylvania’s treatment court system. She shares insights on expanding training access, engaging law enforcement, and strengthening partnerships. Her strategic approach offers a blueprint for statewide treatment court growth and innovation.

Published in Podcast, Problem Solving Courts, State Associations

Tagged under: Abbey Geffken, Drug and DUI Courts, Justice Reform, Pennsylvania Courts, Treatment Courts

Overcoming Barriers to MOUD in the Justice System

Tuesday, 15 April 2025 by Hon. Brian MacKenzie (Ret.)

Court-involved individuals with opioid use disorder face serious barriers to accessing lifesaving medications. This blog examines the research behind these challenges—such as stigma, provider bias, cost, and restrictive policies—and outlines actionable reforms to improve access to MOUD in court and probation settings.

Published in Medication Assisted Treatment

Tagged under: Criminal Justice Reform, MOUD in the Justice System, Opioid Use Disorder, Treatment Courts

How Treatment Courts Can Transform OUD Recovery

Tuesday, 18 March 2025 by Hon. Brian MacKenzie (Ret.)

The opioid crisis has had a profound impact on the criminal justice system, with many individuals struggling with opioid use disorder (OUD) coming into frequent contact with police, courts, and jails. Despite the well-documented effectiveness of Medications for Opioid Use Disorder (MOUD), treatment gaps persist within the justice system. A recent study of high-overdose county

Published in Problem Solving Courts, Substance Use Disorder

Tagged under: Justice Reform, Treatment Courts

Exploring West Virginia’s Treatment Courts with Kaylee Dickenson

Monday, 25 November 2024 by Justice Speakers Institute

In this episode of Justice Speaks, Kaylee Dickenson, West Virginia’s State Drug Court Coordinator, shares insights on treatment court effectiveness, innovative funding models, and overcoming rural challenges. Learn how her leadership helps reduce recidivism, support participants, and shape the future of Drug and Family Treatment Courts in the state.

Published in Drug Courts, Podcast, State Associations

Tagged under: Criminal Justice Reform, Drug Court Reform, Therapeutic Justice, Treatment Courts, West Virginia Justice

Therapeutic Jurisprudence Worldwide: Dr. Yasuhiro Maruyama’s Insights

Thursday, 21 November 2024 by Justice Speakers Institute

Join us on Justice Speaks as Dr. Yasuhiro Maruyama, a professor at Rissho University, shares his journey into Therapeutic Jurisprudence, inspired by U.S. Drug Courts and mentorship from JSI Co-Founder Judge Peggy Hora. Discover his insights on the global impact of problem-solving courts.

Published in Podcast, Procedural Justice

Tagged under: Drug Policy, Japan Justice System, Restorative Justice, Rule of Law, Therapeutic Jurisprudence, Treatment Courts