Author: Lauren Curtis

New IAALS Report Offers Recommendations for Advancing Regulatory Reform Nationwide to Address Dire Gap in Legal Services for Majority of Americans

IAALS, the Institute for the Advancement of the American Legal System at the University of Denver, released Unlocking Legal Regulation: Lessons Learned and Recommendations for Launching and Sustaining Regulatory Reform. This new report highlights results and recommendations on how legal regulation innovation can address the continued and urgent legal services gap faced by the majority of Americans today.

“IAALS has been at the forefront of regulatory innovation through our Unlocking Legal Regulation work, and we’re deeply involved in what’s happening across the nation when it comes to this important movement,” said Jessica Bednarz, Director of Legal Services and the Profession at IAALS. “We’re now at a point where leaders in this space can draw upon their past experiences and share out what has worked and should be replicated, as well as what has not and needs further consideration.”

To this end, in October 2023, IAALS hosted its third regulatory-focused convening, bringing together a small group of leaders from states considering or implementing regulatory innovation to focus on the following three objectives:

  • Objective 1: Learn from past and current regulatory innovation initiatives to develop an initial round of recommendations that supplement existing resources for launching and sustaining regulatory reform.
  • Objective 2: Determine which stakeholder relationships the regulatory innovation community needs to further develop, and what resources and research still need to be developed to launch new regulatory innovation initiatives and to sustain existing ones.
  • Objective 3: Strengthen existing relationships—and develop new ones—so the group can continue to work together and build momentum as one regulatory innovation community.

The report outlines the convening topics and relevant discussion and lays out a set of 12 recommendations drawn from those discussions, covering stakeholder engagement, program structure and requirements, messaging, research and data, and other areas. 

Read the full blog article here: New IAALS Report Offers Recommendations for Advancing Regulatory Reform Nationwide to Address Dire Gap in Legal Services for Majority of Americans | IAALS (du.edu)

September is #NationalRecoveryMonth

The State Justice Institute is proud to support #NationalRecoveryMonth, funding and cross-collaborating in a significant amount of substance use, mental health and behavioral health projects. To learn about these programs and projects funded by SJI, please visit: https://www.sji.gov/priori…/behavioral-health-disparities/.

#recoverymonth #stopaddiction #opioidcrisis #opioidepidemic #mentalhealthawareness #recoveryispossible #substanceusedisorder #addictionrecovery #substanceabuseawareness

Court Navigation and Support – Policy Research Associates

Many people who become involved in the criminal legal system experience behavioral health and social service-related needs that remain unmet throughout their system involvement. These unmet needs can result in people cycling through the system, taking a toll on their well-being and placing a burden on the system. In recognition of this challenge, jurisdictions across the United States have begun to implement court navigator programs to bridge the gap between the behavioral health and criminal legal systems.

Researchers at Policy Research Associates, Inc. conducted a three-year project to better understand court navigator programs. Across three phases of work, researchers completed a national scan of court navigator programs, conducted site visits to five programs, and interviewed nearly 100 people involved with these programs (e.g., court actors, navigators, service providers, and people who had received services).

The national scan of programs found 18 court navigator programs located across 21 different states. Most programs operate in a single jurisdiction though some operate in multiple jurisdictions, statewide, or nationally. Programs are typically funded via local governments or grants and navigators are often employed through non-profit or behavioral health agencies. Navigators direct people around courthouses, answer basic questions about the court process, and connect people to services in the court and in the community. Generally, court navigators emphasize connecting people to services via a ‘warm handoff’ to ensure the connection is made successfully.

During interviews, respondents described key takeaways that spoke to the goal, workflow, and benefits of court navigator programs. We briefly summarize six takeaways here:

  • 1. The main goal of many navigator programs is to reduce recidivism by clarifying court processes and helping people get connected to needed behavioral health and social services.
  • 2. The navigator role is autonomous and flexible allowing navigators to tailor and adjust their schedules as needed.
  • 3. Navigators spend a lot of time developing and maintaining vast referral networks. This community building is the foundation of court navigator success.  
  • 4. Navigators reduce the workload of court staff, jail staff, and service providers by taking on the work of connecting people to services within the courthouse and in the community.
  • 5. Court navigator programs have been well received in the counties in which they operate.
  • 6. People helped by navigators describe the experience as incredibly positive.

To demonstrate the final takeaway, one person who had received services from the navigator in Buncombe County shared, “Its nerve-wracking being [in court] sometimes and it’s nice to have someone just pleasant, friendly, respectful. He was just very helpful.”  Another person who had received services from a navigator with the Criminal Justice Liaison Program in Tennessee expressed, “I couldn’t tell you how much I appreciate the work that she has [done]. Like I said, she went over and beyond what her job title is. She really did. … every state ought to have [a Court Navigator Program].” Nearly everyone interviewed for this project recommended that all courts consider implementing this type of position.

A resource guide describing court navigators in detail is forthcoming in September 2024. In the meantime, if you want to learn more about court navigators, you can access our National Compendium of Court Navigation and Support Services, our podcast episode on court navigators, or a summary of court navigator programs appearing in 2024 edition of Trends in State Courts published by the National Center for State Courts.

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Call For Proposals!

In 2025, the National Council of Juvenile and Family Court Judges (NCJFCJ) will host the National Conference on Juvenile Justice from March 16th-19th, 2025, in Boston, MA and the 88th Annual Conference from July 20th-23rd, 2025, in Chicago, IL. The Curriculum Committee is accepting 60-minute session proposals for both conferences! Please submit here: https://loom.ly/iPbZ1sM

SJI Mourns the Sudden Passing of Circuit Court Judge O. Duane Slone

The State Justice Institute mourns the loss of Judge Slone. He worked tirelessly to support people and their families impacted by substance use disorder, particularly in rural communities. He was a gifted innovator that truly embraced the role of the judge as a convener, leader and changemaker. He will be deeply missed.

Full Statement: Judiciary Mourns the Sudden Passing of Circuit Court Judge O. Duane Slone | Tennessee Administrative Office of the Courts (tncourts.gov)

Upcoming Webinar! Court Navigation Programs: Providing Connections and Support Across the Legal and Behavioral Health Systems

Upcoming #Webinar! Court Navigation Programs: Providing Connections and Support Across the Legal and Behavioral Health Systems

Date: Friday, September 27th, 2024, at 1:00PM EST.

State Justice Institute‘s, Michelle White, will be presenting.

In this webinar, researchers from Policy Research Associates, Inc will share findings from a three-year study of court navigator programs located across the United States. Researchers completed a national scan of court navigator programs, conducted site visits to five programs, and interviewed nearly 100 people who were involved with these programs in various capacities. Researchers will summarize findings across programs regarding the structure, daily workflow, lessons learned, and reported benefits of court navigator programs. A special emphasis will be placed on the role of court navigators in providing connections to behavioral health services in the community. The webinar will include a panel discussion featuring court navigators and will conclude with an audience Q&A.

Presenters:

Dr. Samantha Zottola, Senior Research Associate, Policy Research Associates, Inc

Brandon Morrissey, JD, Research Assistant, Policy Research Associates, Inc

Isolynn Massey, Research Assistant, Policy Research Associates, Inc

Dr. Sarah Desmarais, President, Policy Research Associates, Inc

Dr. Elan Hope, Vice President, Policy Research Associates, Inc

Michelle White, Senior Policy Advisor, State Justice Institute and the Bureau of Justice Assistance

Luther Archer, LPC, CPSC, Court Clinician, Chesterfield VA

Nicholas Bolet, Court Navigator, Buncombe County, NC

Dani Tirjan-Whittemore, Criminal Justice Liaison, TN

Register here: https://prainc.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZEpfumtqDsiGdIP9tkDl_xvS-2Cp0Za75Na#/registration

Call For Proposals! Overarching Theme for 2025: Building Public Trust and Confidence in Our Nation’s Courts

The National Association for Court Management (NACM) is now accepting proposals for the 2025 Midyear and Annual Conferences. If you know someone who would be perfect for these conferences, please encourage them to submit a proposal. Midyear and Annual proposals are due by October 4th, 2024.

The 2025 conference themes are available below. Click the following link to submit a proposal: https://nacmnet.org/nacm-2025-conference-proposal-submission-form/

Upcoming Webinar: Using Behavioral Science to (Re)Design Your Jury Summons and Other Communications with Prospective Jurors

When? Wednesday, August 21st, 2024, from 3:00PM – 4:00PM ET.

Join the National Center for State Courts for an insightful webinar on redesigning jury summons and other communications with prospective jurors through the lens of behavioral science.

This session will explore:

•The principles of behavioral science and how they apply to jury communications

•Real-world examples of redesigned communications that have led to higher engagement

•Practical tips for crafting more effective messages to prospective jurors

Register here.

SJI Celebrates 40 Years of Improving the Administration of Justice in State Courts

SJI and its Board of Directors are pleased to announce the release of a 40-year report that provides a retrospective overview of the important work that SJI has achieved over the past four decades, highlighting specific projects that have supported the greatest areas of need within the #statecourts.

Over the next decade, SJI will leverage funding whenever possible to help the state courts address the most critical issues. SJI will continue to focus on using its Priority Investment Areas to address court issues on a national level and maintain flexibility to adapt its grants to address emerging topics.

SJI Celebrates #40Years!

#40YearAnniversary #Celebrating40Years #StateJusticeInstitute