Author: Lauren Curtis

Wyoming Judicial Branch Mental Health Diversion Project

Behavioral health diversion is built on a guiding hypothesis: Diverting non-violent individuals with serious mental illness away from the criminal justice system and into community-based treatment and support services will transform lives, reduce recidivism, generate cost savings, and ease the burden on jails, courts, and state hospitals. This hypothesis has been proven in well-resourced urban centers like Miami. The Wyoming Judicial Branch is now testing whether it holds true in a rural, under-resourced jurisdiction like Wyoming.

To test this hypothesis, the Wyoming Judicial Branch launched the state’s first diversion pilot in Campbell County on January 1, 2024. The program operates as follows: eligible individuals (those who commit non-violent misdemeanors, have a diagnosis of serious mental illness, are assessed as moderate to very high criminogenic risk, and do not pose a public safety threat) are offered the option of diversion. Participants who choose diversion and successfully complete an individualized treatment plan have their charges dismissed. Those who decline or fail to complete the program return to the traditional criminal justice process.

With funding from the State Justice Institute, the Wyoming Judicial Branch partnered with the National Center for State Courts to provide training and technical assistance for the Campbell County pilot and up to three additional pilots across the state.

Early results are promising. The pilot program’s first graduate spent 623 days in jail before entering diversion and zero days in jail after entering the program. While it is too early for definitive conclusions, these results suggest behavioral health diversion works in rural settings.

The Judicial Innovation Fellowship Program

The Judicial Innovation Fellowship (JIF) is a fellowship for technology industry professionals to transform justice across state, local, territorial, and tribal courts. Partnering with courts to build critical data infrastructure, simplify processes, and improve usability of court services, this competitive fellowship is a unique opportunity to innovate a core democratic institution.

The Judicial Innovation Fellowship is incubated at the Georgetown Institute for Technology Law & Policy. This work is made possible by the State Justice Institute, the New Venture Fund, Schmidt Futures, the Ford Foundation, the Utah Bar Foundation, the Pew Charitable Trusts, and the Fritz Family Foundation.

The inaugural cohort took place from 2023-2024. This successful pilot is commemorated in the JIF Final Report and the Judicial Innovation Fellowship Webinar video, which was recorded in January 2025.

To read about how the program was built, please read the JIF Roadmap.

JIF_Report_24Download

Upcoming Webinar! Tech for All: Applications of AI to Increase Access to Justice

When? Wednesday, January 29th, 2025, at 1:00PM EST.

Explore the potential of artificial intelligence (AI) in enhancing access to justice for underserved communities.

Presenters will discuss how they are safely and effectively leveraging new technologies to make the legal system more accessible. Participants will learn about practical applications of AI and discover the potential for democratizing access to legal information for increased participation in court cases and proceedings. The presenters will also share compelling case studies that demonstrate how AI can directly assist individuals seeking justice. National Center for State Courts

Register here.

The Rural Justice Collaborative Digest for January 2025

Funded by the State Justice Institute, the National Center for State Courts, in partnership with Rulo Strategies LLC, launched the Rural Justice Collaborative (RJC) to showcase the strengths of rural communities and highlight the cross-sector collaboration that is a hallmark of rural justice systems. These strengths include strong professional networks, deep ties to the communities they serve, resiliency, and ingenuity. The Rural Justice Collaborative is guided by an advisory council of rural practitioners representing the judiciary, public safety, behavioral health, public health, child welfare, victim services and other stakeholder-focused justice systems. The advisory council guides the initiative and has focused initial efforts on advancing innovation, promoting collaboration, and raising awareness of rural justice system needs.

RJC-Digest-Jan-2025

Deadline Extension! Pretrial, Prosecution, Defense Counsel, and Courts Mentoring Initiative

Deadline Extension! New Pretrial, Prosecution, Defense Counsel, and Courts Mentoring Initiative Deadline Extended: February 14th, 2025, at 5:00PM EST.

The OJP Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA) and RTI International are seeking mentor sites to share their best practices and expertise with diverting justice-involved persons with substance use disorders to community-based treatment or connecting individuals to treatment and support services during the pretrial and court adjudication phases of justice processing. This program is part of the training and technical assistance (TTA) resources available to jurisdictions through BJA’s Comprehensive Opioid, Stimulant, and Substance Use Program (COSSUP).

The Pretrial, Prosecution, Defense Counsel, and Courts Mentoring Initiative provides an opportunity for new or early-stage programs to be matched with experienced practitioners to promote peer-to-peer learning. The mentor sites serve as models for individuals and teams interested in starting a new practice or for established programs interested in learning innovative approaches.

Application: https://survey.alchemer.com/s3/8053368/Pretrial-Prosecution-Defense-Counsel-and-Courts-Mentor-Site-Application

#applicationdeadline #deadlineextension #COSSUP #courts #applynow #BJA

Upcoming Webinar! Veterans Treatment Courts: Enhancing Support for Military-Connected Survivors of DVSAS in the VTC Process

When? Tuesday, February 11th, 2025, at 1:00PM EST.

This training provides Veterans Treatment Court (VTC) personnel, court judges, legal clerks, and other key stakeholders with the tools and knowledge needed to support military-connected survivors of Domestic Violence, Dating Violence, and Sexual Assault, and Stalking (DVSAS). It explores the unique dynamics of these cases, challenges in navigating military and civilian systems, and the importance of building coordinated responses. Participants will gain practical strategies for collaborating with local agencies and advocates to provides holistic, trauma-informed, and survivor-centered support within VTC settings. Through case studies, interactive discussions, and actionable insights, this session emphasizes the critical role VTC personnel play in ensuring equitable access to justice and recovery services for military-connected survivors. National Council of Juvenile and Family Court Judges

Prior to participating in this webinar, participants are strongly encouraged to view this recorded webinar on Advocating for Military-Connected Survivors.

Register here.

2025 Access to Justice Prize

The United States Department of Justice (DOJ) Office for Access to Justice (ATJ) is excited to announce the opening of submissions for the 2025 Access to Justice Prize.

The Prize is a year-long, nationwide competition designed to spark innovative solutions to address the justice gap and promote equal access to justice for all. The theme for the 2025 Prize is “Closing the Rural Justice Gap,” and we are seeking proposals that address access to justice challenges in rural communities. Application Deadline: March 31st, 2025.

For more information and to apply: https://www.justice.gov/atj/access-justice-prize

Nearly Two-Thirds of Americans Express Trust in State Courts, State of the State Courts Survey Poll

More Americans are expressing trust and confidence in state courts, according to the National Center for State Courts’ annual State of the State Courts survey.

The newly released 2024 survey shows that nearly two-thirds (63%) of Americans express trust and confidence in America’s state courts. It’s the second consecutive year that the trust barometer has moved up.

“Public trust and confidence is the stock and trade of the courts,” said Chief Judge Anna Blackburne-Rigsby of the D.C. Court of Appeals. “It’s heartening to see this survey reflect that most Americans feel we are earning that trust. As national court leaders, we are committed to earning that confidence every day.”

The 2024 survey also reveals that 63% of Americans agree that state courts are “committed to protecting individual and civil rights” and that 59% believe that state courts “treat people with dignity and respect.”

Read the full NCSC news release here: Nearly two-thirds of Americans express trust in state courts, says new poll | NCSC

AI Readiness for the State Courts – The National Center for State Courts

The National Center for State Courts (NCSC) has brought together experts and practitioners to develop comprehensive guidance on AI Readiness for the state courts. The project, funded by SJI, aims to provide resources for courts along the whole spectrum of AI maturity, from courts that are just beginning to think about AI to courts that have already implemented AI projects.

The AI Readiness Workgroup includes court leaders, court practitioners on the cutting edge of AI implementation, and experts in court technology, psychology, computer science, design, and law. In a 2-day kickoff gathering in Chicago, pictured below, the workgroup heard presentations from subject-matter experts, engaged in brainstorming and problem-solving activities, reviewed existing guidance on AI for courts, and viewed demonstrations from courts that have already implemented ambitious AI projects.

The Workgroup from the kickoff meeting held in Chicago, IL.

The Workgroup is currently hard at work drafting a variety of resources for courts that are just beginning their AI journeys. Topics include establishing the court’s AI governance structure, building AI literacy in the court workforce, assessing data governance practices for AI readiness, identifying AI opportunities, and updating policies. Once these resources are developed, the Workgroup will tackle resources for courts that are already at various stages of AI development, including topics like vetting technology vendors, implementing change management, and evaluating AI outcomes.

The project is scheduled to conclude in Summer 2025, but interim deliverables will be published as they become available, beginning in the Spring.

This project builds on the foundations of earlier work by NCSC and other organizations, including COSCA and NACM. For more information, see the AI Rapid Response Team Resource Center.

SJI Board Awards FY 2025 First Quarter Grants

The 1st Quarter Board Meeting was held on December 9, 2024, at the Supreme Court of Virginia in Richmond, VA.  Members of the SJI Board, Executive Director, Jonathan Mattiello, and Senior Program Advisor, Michelle White, were joined by Chief Justice S. Bernard Goodwyn, Chief Judge of the Court of Appeals Marla Decker, State Court Administrator Karl Hade, and other court staff.

SJI received fourteen grant applications requesting a total of $1,459,487 for the 1st quarter of FY 2025.

The Board awarded one Strategic Initiative Grant to the Justice Management Institute to assess online case resolution (OCR) feasibility nationwide, introduce OCR to two states and plan for pilots in two jurisdictions.

Three (3) Project Grants were awarded to: 1) the Maryland Judiciary to support a statewide behavioral health summit; 2) the National Association for Court Management to develop and deliver nationally significant educational programs to include in-person and remote opportunities; and 3) to the Montana Supreme Court to create infrastructure to grow the cadre of skilled Community Justice Workers, and build state approval for the non-attorney advocates to represent consumer debtors and tenants in evictions.

Six (6) Technical Assistance Grant applications were awarded: 1) the Indiana Office of Judicial Administration to develop a Behavioral Health Action Plan to be disseminated to judicial officers statewide; 2) Washington County, Oregon, to establish a framework that will lead to positive outcomes for probation and justice-involved youth; 3) the Judicial Council of California to improve caseflow management in all case types; 4) the Second Judicial District Court to assess operations and caseflow management in the court; 5) the Idaho Supreme Court to support a strategic planning initiative; and 6) Supreme Court of New Mexico to conduct an in-depth study of the process for admission to the New Mexico Bar. 

Two (2) Curriculum Adaptation and Training Grants were awarded: 1) the Oregon Judicial Department to host a statewide training summit for the jury services staff; and 2) the National Association of Women Judges to develop training on AI for courts focused on helping self-represented litigants (SRLs). The training, offered at conferences and online, will cover AI tools that enhance judicial efficiency, detect falsified evidence, and support SRLs.

The next deadline for grant applications is February 1, 2025.