Three Podcasts for November
We just released a couple of podcasts for you to enjoy during those long autumn commutes. The first two episodes from On the Docket with National Drug Court Resource Center (NDCRC), will take you on one man’s journey of surviving an opioid addiction. Additionally, check out Justice Programs Office’s (JPO) Karen Lash in an OFF-KILTER podcast on the crisis facing the civil justice system.

On the Docket with NDCRC – Listen to parts two and three of Treating the Opioid Crisis podcast series, where host, Anna Koozmin, returns to Great Falls, Montana and talks with Jeff Fauque, a former Cascade County law enforcement officer and current counselor for the Cascade County drug court. After a surgery, Jeff becomes addicted to opioids and nearly loses everything. In part two, he talks about why he now champions medicated-assisted treatment (MAT). Listen here !

OFF-KILTER - The Justice in Government Project (JGP) director Karen Lash and National Legal Aid & Defender Association (NLADA) Senior Fellow Maha Jweied, both Center for American Progress (CAP) Senior Fellows, discussed their article Civil Justice Needs Federal Leadership on a recent episode of the Off-Kilter podcast. In the episode, Karen and Maha shine a spotlight on the civil justice crisis, in which tens of millions of people in the US with civil legal problems cannot afford and are denied access to legal counsel. They emphasize that preventing legal issues from cascading into larger problems results in financial and housing stability for individuals and families and cost savings for local, state, and federal governments. Listen here !
Latest Drug Court Review Now Available!
The summer 2019 issue of the Drug Court Review academic journal is now available on the NDCRC website . This issue offers a collection of articles on innovative approaches, program implementation, and evaluation in the treatment court field. Read it here .
National Legal Aid & Defender Association Conference on Civil Legal Aid
On November 7-8, The Justice in Government Project (JGP) director Karen Lash will present on two panels at the NLADA annual conference in Detroit, MI. The first panel will discuss how legal aid can be and has been integrated into federal and state efforts to facilitate reentry, serve veterans, and assist victims of crime. The second panel will explore:
  • the collateral legal issues that lead to children entering foster care (including unresolved housing, public benefits, or custody problems),
  • how foster care entry can be prevented using legal aid, and
  • the recent clarification about using Title IV-E funds for legal representation.

To learn more about how issues can benefit from legal aid, see JGP’s collection of research briefs . For information on grants that can fund legal services, see JGP’s Grants Matrix and Funding-By Issue Cheat Sheet .
Webinar: The Criminalization of Trafficking Victims
Over the past decade, there has been increased public awareness that sex trafficking survivors are often arrested and prosecuted for prostitution. The reality is that many survivors of both sex and labor trafficking are at increased risk of being arrested for a range of crimes related to the circumstances of their trafficking.

Join our next webinar on November 12, 2:00 PM EST to learn how criminal legal system actors can respond to questions of culpability, develop a range of case resolutions, leverage safe harbor laws, and assert affirmative defenses. Register here!
America Working Forward: Hidden Workforce
JPO’s Senior Policy Advisor, Genevieve Citrin Ray, moderated a panel discussion titled America Working Forward: Hidden Workforce about second chance hiring, sponsored by the U S Chamber of Commerce Foundation and The Sine Institute of Policy & Politics at American University.

The event highlighted programs that offer returning citizens and individuals with a criminal record pathways to re-enter America’s workforce and training facilities.

“We have a hidden workforce that needs to be empowered and not feel marginalized,” said Ernest Smith, returning citizen and business owner. Did you miss this event? Watch the video!
Celebrating National Crime Prevention Month
JPO partnered with the National Crime Prevention Council (NCPC) to celebrate National Crime Prevention month on the American University campus. JPO and NCPC teams met with AU students to share information about personal and ridesharing safety. Students took selfies with McGruff the Crime Dog®, and coco his sidekick, and received information about JPO and safety. The JPO and NCPC teams also handed out freebies to students and faculty.

Follow us on Twitter for future events on campus.
Exciting New Partnership with Verizon
JPO is excited to announce that we have engaged in a partnership to work with Verizon. Working collectively, JPO will analyze pending legislation to assess potential impacts on criminal justice policies and practices and ultimately on communities. 

“We believe it is important for us to push for positive reforms and demonstrate that the business community is willing to engage and is supportive of correcting the problems plaguing our criminal justice system.” - Verizon’s Senior Vice President of Public Policy and Strategic Alliances, Donna Epps.