All Rise About Projects Judiciary Training on Substance Use

Judiciary Training on Substance Use

Training for non-treatment court judges on effective strategies for addressing substance use and mental health disorders

Background and Approach

Most defendants do not receive evidence-based treatment or supervision, making it more likely that their underlying treatment needs will go unmet and they will be rearrested.

Thanks to decades of research on treatment courts and other approaches to individuals with addiction and mental health conditions in the justice system, we know a great deal about what works to promote recovery and reduce reoffending. Much of this knowledge is reflected in All Rise’s Adult Treatment Court Best Practice Standards. However, these practices are not widely used in regular criminal courts, where hundreds of thousands of defendants with substance use or mental health disorders have their cases processed each year. As a result, most defendants do not receive evidence-based treatment or supervision, making it more likely that their underlying treatment needs will go unmet and they will be rearrested.

Our expert faculty offers virtual and in-person training to judges and other justice system professionals on evidence-based practices for addressing individuals with substance use and mental health disorders.

Areas of Focus

Neuroscience of Addiction

Our subject matter experts train judges on the impact of substance use on the brain and how treatment makes recovery possible. While it is never appropriate for judges to make treatment decisions, this training can help judges support the recovery process by understanding how addiction affects the individuals before them and learning to communicate with treatment professionals more effectively.

Clinical Screening, Assessment, and Treatment

We train judges on the role of clinical screening, assessment, and evidence-based treatment principles for substance use and mental health disorders. Our training emphasizes the importance of assessment-driven, individualized care and appropriate level of care placements for treatment success. Judges also learn how they can facilitate referrals to services while leaving clinical decisions in the hands of qualified treatment professionals.

The Risk-Need-Responsivity (RNR) Model

RNR is an evidence-based framework that helps jurisdictions tailor justice system responses to individuals’ criminogenic risk and needs. We train justice professionals on the principles of assessing criminal reoffending (the risk principle), addressing the causes of criminal reoffending (the needs principle), and identifying barriers to success (the responsivity principle).

Evidence-Based Decision Making—RNR in Action

We train judges and others how to screen court-involved individuals with a validated RNR tool and how to use that information to make informed decisions about pretrial release and supervision, diversion eligibility, referrals to services, and supervision case plans. By matching individuals with the appropriate level of accountability and support, courts can reduce reoffending, save money, and help strengthen their communities.

Access Free Judical Training

CAJ’s collaboration with the National Judicial College offers no-cost training opportunities on substance use tailored specifically for non-treatment court judges. Training is available in person or via web-based modules.

Access Training

This project is funded by the White House Office of National Drug Control Policy State Judiciary Education on Substance Use and Substance Use Disorder program.