Author: Lauren Curtis

Data Specialists, Information Technologists Convene to Discuss Emerging Data Trends

AI, data quality and security, and court staffing were among the hot topics discussed at this year’s Data Specialists/Information Technologists Summitearlier this month. This year, 79 attendees from 24 states joined NCSC for two days of data and information technology presentations and discussions at the Maryland Judicial Center in Annapolis. Experts from courts, academia, and partner agencies joined NCSC staff to share trends and best practices.

“Both data and technology have become increasingly important to courts. Events like the summit provide an invaluable opportunity for us to take the time to think strategically about collection and use of state court data, now and in the future,” said Diane Robinson, an NCSC principal court research associate and summit organizer.

The agenda featured sessions on the National Open Court Data Standards, use of data to improve court services and communication, implications of record clearance initiatives on court data, and data quality improvement. Attendees also explored emerging topics like “AI and Court Data” and “Ethics and AI.”

NCSC Data Scientist Andre Assumpcao offered a live workshop, “Beyond ChatGPT: How can AI tools help you?” where he shared NCSC’s experience using large language models, such as ChatGPT, to extract data from court documents. The workshop was part of NCSC’s new product, the Data Dives series, and featured a demonstration of a data pipeline, which took in PDF documents, performed Optical Character Recognition (OCR) for extracting the text, and then restructured the textual information into a CSV file using ChatGPT.

View the workshop, presentation slides, and session notebook online at ncsc.org/datadives.

National Survey Identifies Trends, Best Practices for Court-Based Self-Help Centers

Court-based self-help services are more available to the public through increased remote access, according to a new report released by the National Center for State Courts (NCSC) and the Massachusetts Appleseed Center for Law and Justice (Massachusetts Appleseed). “Self-help centers benefit courts and court users alike. Litigants who visit a self-help center are more likely to file paperwork that is legally sufficient. Having litigants better prepared for court appearances saves time for judges and court staff,” said Lonni Summers, an NCSC senior court management consultant leading the report. “Self-help centers also educate members of the public about how the court system works, enhancing public trust and confidence in state courts.”

A lifeline to millions of Americans who face civil legal problems without a lawyer, self-help centers help bridge the civil justice gap by providing access to legal information, advice, and referrals to counsel. Self-help centers support individuals by helping explain court processes, fill out and file court forms, and connect with wraparound services, including language access services and rental assistance programs.

In addition to increased remote service delivery via phone, chat, email or videoconferencing, the report identified some additional trends in the national survey data from 32 states:

  • Consistent and adequate funding is crucial to the success of self-help centers, yet survey respondents cited funding as the number one challenge they face.
  • Experienced, dedicated staff is essential to running a successful program. Yet self-help center survey respondents indicated insufficient staffing as a reoccurring struggle faced by their programs and noted a need for increased funding to support hiring additional staff.
  • Most programs reported that they offer help solely with civil case types. Out of 25 participants, only four programs reported that they provide help with both civil and criminal matters.

The report also identifies areas where self-help centers can make targeted improvements based on respondent feedback and author expertise. Led by NCSC’s Access Team, the report encourages courts to find the best recommendations and resources to support their specific self-help program needs.

“New centers can learn how to build on their foundation and support the program’s growth. Experienced centers can find new ways to reach deeper into their communities, consider additional ways to provide their services, and maximize program efficiency and effectiveness,” Summers said.

The report, “Court-Based Self-Help Centers: National Survey Findings, Recommendations, and Best Practices,” is available online at ncsc.org/self-help.

New Findings From the “Understanding the Population of People With Frequent Jail Contact” Project

Policy Research Associates (PRA) is pleased to announce the findings from its recently completed project, “Understanding the Population of People with Frequent Jail Contact.” This mixed-methods project examined the flow of people with frequent jail contact through the criminal legal system across three counties in the United States. The project assessed the counties’ strategies to reduce frequent jail contact, especially the impact that those strategies had on People of Color and people with behavioral health conditions.

Through their analysis, the authors developed the following recommendations:

  • Create a data sharing ecosystem
  • Establish formal, jurisdiction-specific definitions
  • Use validated behavioral health screening tools
  • Implement psychiatric advanced directives
  • Facilitate jail in-reach programs
  • Increase peer support programs
  • Improve access to housing
  • Increase utilization of community-based services
  • Center and evaluate efforts for racial equity

To highlight and provide context for these recommendations, Policy Research has assembled a microsite that houses the following resources:

  • Policy brief, which provides additional context for the recommendations provided above.
  • County-specific fact sheets, which provide demographic information and trends in bookings over time.
  • County-specific graphic recording notes, which provide excerpts from interviews conducted during this research study.
  • Podcast episode, which dives into the research and offers key takeaways that can be put into action.

Access here: https://new.express.adobe.com/webpage/7hEp4jmTAuFkP

The 2023 National Interdisciplinary Cannabis Symposium

As cannabis legalization and regulation evolve, the United States is at a tipping point. These continued changes in laws are impacting our courts and society, and are creating a dynamic and sometimes confusing landscape for a variety of disciplines including judges, attorneys, law enforcement, drug court professionals, academia, the drug and alcohol testing industry, and employers’ human resource offices. As a result, the American Judges Association has partnered with the National Judicial College, the American Bar Association (ABA) Judicial Division; the ABA Tort, Trial, and Insurance Practice Section; the National Council for Juvenile and Family Court Judges; Cannabis Law Report; and the New England Association of Recovery Court Professionals to build on the success of last year’s Symposium, and again bring forward an interdisciplinary approach to the 2023 Symposium. This Symposium will bring together impacted disciplinary groups and allow for significant interaction, discussion, and knowledge-sharing. 

The Symposium partners have assembled the best faculty from across the country to discuss the most pressing cannabis related topics.  There will be 4 Keynotes, 12 Panels, and a Professional Facilitator to engage the attendees in discussion. The goals of the symposium are: 1) identify current issues related to the legalization of cannabis and its impact on judges, law enforcement, academia, drug court professionals, the drug and alcohol testing industry, attorneys; and human resources; 2) identify and analyze how cannabis-related issues are addressed by each discipline; and 3) develop an educated approach and plan to address the issues facing each discipline with a multidisciplinary perspective.

The event will be held December 1-3, 2023, at Portland State University and also online. Registration opens on August 1, 2023, and be accessed here: 2nd National Interdisciplinary Cannabis Symposium – NCJFCJ.

Rural Justice Collaborative Seeking Innovation Site Nominations

Applications Due: July 31st, 2023

RURAL JUSTICE COLLABORATIVE (RJC)
Rural communities face unique challenges that impact their ability to deliver fair and equitable justice. Despite these challenges, rural communities rely on their many strengths to address the needs of their residents. The RJC is designed to highlight the success found in rural justice systems. More information about the RJC can be found at www.ruraljusticecollaborative.org.  
 
RJC SEEKING INNOVATION SITE NOMINATIONS (APPLICATION)
The RJC is soliciting nominations for rural justice programs or initiatives that were developed in rural communities or adapted for rural communities that fall into the RJC’s seven areas of focus. To be considered, a program or initiative must:

  • Primarily serve justice-involved individuals or families engaged in the court system or be designed to increase access to legal representation.
  • Reflect innovation that is specific to a rural community.
  • Have been operational for a least one year.
  • Have a written description of the initiative, practice, or program.
  • Have an interest in serving as a mentor for other rural communities.

Priority consideration will be given to initiatives that are multi-disciplinary in nature (at least two agencies representing two different disciplines must be involved). Past Innovation Sites can be found here.

Click here for more information: https://www.sji.gov/wp-content/uploads/Innovation-Sites-Flyer-05.05.23-2.pdf

National Pretrial, Probation, and Parole Supervision Week

Join us in celebrating #PPPS Week!

The American Probation and Parole Association (APPA) is promoting the National Pretrial, Probation, and Parole Supervision Week (#PPPSWeek), held the third full calendar week of July (Sunday – Saturday).

This week, we celebrate over 100,000 community corrections professionals around the country who work hard to keep our communities safe.

National Judicial Network: Forum on Human Trafficking and Immigration in State Courts

The National Judicial Network: A Lifeline Helping Judges Better Serve Human Trafficking Victims and Immigrant Victims of Crime and Abuse

The National Judicial Network (NJN): Forum on Human Trafficking and Immigration in State Courts offers judges an opportunity for peer-to-peer learning and information sharing. Judges from all over the country who are interested in the court’s role in assisting victims of human trafficking and immigrant victims of crime and abuse can engage with one another through NJN. The NJN is supported by the National Immigrant Women’s Advocacy Project (NIWAP), American University Washington College of Law, in collaboration with the National Council of Juvenile and Family Court Judges (NCJFCJ), a 17-member state court judge steering committee and funded by the State Justice Institute. NJN judges participate in peer-to-peer forums, webinars, and a confidential members-only Listserv where they can communicate with other judges. They also have access to topic-specific publications and can request the development of new publications. In-person training sessions are conducted to address issues related to human trafficking and immigrant victims in state courts. The NJN’s forums, webinars, and publications aim to enhance judges’ understanding of complex issues and ultimately improve access to justice for victims of human trafficking and immigrant victims of domestic violence, child abuse, sexual assault, stalking, and other crimes. The NJN currently has 240 judicial officers from 35 states, DC, Puerto Rico, and American Samoa as its members. They convene monthly (excluding July and August) for peer-to-peer forums and webinars focused on topics requested by members. In response to judicial requests, NIWAP has developed a library of 260 judicial educational materials for judges. Additionally, the NJN records many of its forums and webinars as a comprehensive resource for judges and lawyers nationwide, covering various topics (30 in total).

Members of the NJN Steering Committee describe the importance of NJN membership:

“As a New Jersey family court judge in 2016, I was appointed to oversee the development of a juvenile diversion program for youth at risk of human trafficking,” said Judge Susan Maven (ret.) of Atlantic City, New Jersey. “I quickly learned that there was not a central platform to converse with judges across the country who had established similar programs or had experience with the human trafficking of youth. I made it my goal then to establish such a network. Through my affiliation with the NCJFCJ and NIWAP, we were able to establish the National Judicial Network. Judges are now able to share experiences and learn best practices in order to better serve youth and immigrant women who are victims or at risk of harm from human trafficking.”

“The National Judicial Network is an exciting opportunity for judges across the country to learn about issues related to human trafficking and immigrant victims of domestic violence, child abuse, sexual assault, and other crimes,” Judge Rosemary Collins (ret.) of Rockford, Illinois said. “I personally have found these trainings, and the materials provided, to be of the highest quality and extraordinarily helpful in my professional life.  Networking with other judges who share my passion for this work and having access to up-to-date accurate information about these complex issues is invaluable!” 

“I have been a state trial court judge for more than 28 years,” says Judge Ramona Gonzalez of La Cross, Wisconsin. “Courts now are a place where families come in crisis seeking more than just a jurist who calls balls and strikes.  The issues they bring include many that are not taught in law schools.  Immigration, trauma, and human trafficking are now before judges in rural and urban centers.  The Judicial Network is a lifeline for judges everywhere to learn, share and prepare to meet the needs of the families in crisis we see every day.”

Please share information about the NJN widely with judges.  If you are a judge, tribal judge, magistrate, commissioner, or other judicial officer we encourage you to join the NJN.  Please register through this link: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/VGY9VJM

New Publication! A National Compendium of Court Navigation Programs

Policy Research Associates, Inc. in partnership with the State Justice Institute, released a new overview of 18 court navigation programs operating in 22 states across the US. A court navigation program provides guidance and information about court processes and procedures to people in contact with the court system. The compendium can serve as a tool for courts to develop their own court navigation program or to expand an existing program’s services.

Download the free resource here: https://www.prainc.com/…/CourtNavigatorCompendium-508.pdf

Upcoming Webinar! National Discussion on the U.S. Supreme Court Ruling Upholding the Indian Child Welfare Act (ICWA) and its Impact

Upcoming #Webinar! Tomorrow: Friday, June 23rd, 2023, at 3:00PM EST.

National Discussion on the U.S. Supreme Court Ruling Upholding the Indian Child Welfare Act (ICWA) and its Impact.

The National American Indian Court Judges Association (NAICJA) and the National Council of Juvenile and Family Court Judges (NCJFCJ) will host a national discussion on the U.S. Supreme Court ruling upholding the Indian Child Welfare Act (ICWA) and its impact. This interactive discussion will bring together judicial thought leaders from across the country to discuss the challenges and successes of the decision and will provide an opportunity to share perspectives on ways to effectively support families and communities moving forward.

Register now: Webinar Registration – Zoom