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
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:
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.
Media pieces and products:
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
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
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
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/
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.
The SJI Board of Directors will be meeting on Monday, September 9, 2024, at 1:00 PM ET. The purpose of this meeting is to consider grant applications for the 4th quarter of FY 2024, and other business.
ADDRESS: District of Columbia Court of Appeals, 430 E Street, NW, Washington, D.C.
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.
#40YearAnniversary #Celebrating40Years #StateJusticeInstitute
The Trauma-Informed Practice Strategy Lab (TIPS Lab) was born out of the need to address the trauma of people involved in criminal courts—an urgent need shown by statistics on the prevalence of violence and victimization in the United States. The Center for Justice Innovation is leading the development of the TIPS Lab, which includes a forthcoming blueprint for criminal court practitioners to recognize, address, and respond to trauma. The goal of the TIPS Lab is to bridge the gap between training and implementation of trauma-informed practices to support criminal court practitioners in non-specialty courts.
The TIPS Lab is documenting and supporting emerging and leading trauma-informed practices in criminal courts with special attention to the role court staff, administrators, and judicial officers play. The TIPS Lab launched in 2023 and has three distinct phases: Phase One of the project focused on conducting a national inventory of both the major challenges and opportunities that criminal courts face when implementing trauma-informed practices as well as an in-person symposium of though leaders in the field. Phase One culminated with the development of the publication Trauma-Informed Practices for Criminal Courts: Implementation Opportunities. Phase Two focused on the development of a forthcoming TIPS Lab Blueprint to provide courts detailed guidance on their implementation of trauma-informed practices. Phase Three will focus on the practical application of the TIPS Lab Blueprint through providing intensive technical assistance to a cohort of four to six diverse criminal court jurisdictions across the United States.
For more information, please contact Alejandra Garcia, Associate Director of Recovery and Reform, Center for Justice Innovation: garciaa@innovatingjustice.org.
Article about the Symposium: https://www.innovatingjustice.org/articles/trauma-informed-courts
Initial TIPS Lab Publication: https://www.innovatingjustice.org/publications/trauma-informed-courts-implementation
