August 2017
NADCP Conference

Many thanks to the National Association of Drug Court Professionals (NADCP) for putting together an inspiring and informative conference at the National Harbor this year! Several JPO staff members presented at the conference. Preeti Menon, Steve Collins, Kierra Zoellick, and Anna Koozmin presented, coordinated, and facilitated multiple valuable sessions on behalf of the  National Drug Court Resource Center , including "VJO Specialists: A Key Component of the Veterans Treatment Court," "Veterans Treatment Courts: Lessons being Learned through Research," and "Making the Most of the National Drug Court Resource Center." Zoë Root presented on behalf of JPO's  Juvenile Drug Treatment Courts (JDTC) Initiative , along with Jen Tyson and Leanetta Jessie, Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention (OJJDP), and Anne Caron, NADCP, about OJJDP's new JDTC Guidelines, and training and technical assistance services and resources available to programs nationwide.
Updates from the Tribal Law and Policy Institute 

The role of the Healing to Wellness Court differs dramatically from the adversarial trial court judge, both in mechanics and in philosophy. In Wellness Court, the judge serves as the captain or the coach of the team, focused on healing and collaboration. This publication orients and serves the Wellness Court judge while on the bench. The first section provides examples of key component performance in relation to component principles. The second section overviews key Wellness Court processes and procedures. Both sections include Bench Cards intended to serve as tools that package relevant information in an abbreviated format. Materials are available at the Tribal Healing to Wellness Court Publication Series.


The Tribal Law and Policy Institute invites you to attend the free Tribal Healing to Wellness Court Enhancement Training scheduled to take place September 12-14, 2017 in Albuquerque, NM. It is the preeminent national training opportunity for tribal problem-solving courts. This training event focuses upon tribal issues, including jurisdictional and legal issues unique to Indian country; the incorporation of custom and tradition into the phases, case management, treatments, and tangential services; and the peer-to-peer sharing of successful Healing to Wellness Courts models in operations. For more information, visit: https://www.enhancementtraining.org/.  
Updates from the Center for Court Innovation 


The Center for Court Innovation has published a new fact sheet entitled "Teleservices: Happening Now! Using Technology to Enhance Drug Treatment Courts." This fact sheet details the implementation of innovative teleservices programs in seven jurisdictions around the country. Teleservices refers to the use of communications technology, remote drug testing, web-based training, and other cutting-edge technologies to enhance the way treatment courts operate. The jurisdictions featured in this publication use teleservices to increase treatment court capacity, overcome treatment barriers, supervise participants, and provide training for staff. By demonstrating the effectiveness of teleservices in practice, these jurisdictions are setting an example for other courts to follow. Access the new fact sheet by clicking here.


The Center for Court Innovation has also launched TreatmentCourts.org, one of the nation’s premier online training resources for treatment court practitioners. This free, web-based platform is designed to ensure that treatment court practitioners have access to the ongoing training they need to keep up with emerging research, new evidence-based practices, and the latest innovative approaches.  TreatmentCourts.org offers training for adult drug courts, juvenile drug courts, veterans treatment courts, and Tribal Healing to Wellness Courts. Additional courses for mental health courts, DWI/DUI courts, and more are being developed. Each course includes video lessons presented by leading experts, virtual site visits to model courts, interviews with experienced practitioners, and a resource library. TreatmentCourts.org replaces the Center’s previous online learning system (drugcourtsonline.org), and provides an enhanced user experience and new training content.

New Podcast Series: On the Docket with the National Drug Court Resource Center

The National Drug Court Resource Center has released its first episode in a series, called  On the Docket with the National Drug Court Resource Center . The series explores problem-solving courts that address substance use, mental health, and co-occurring disorders within the criminal justice system. These voluntary programs serve as a form of deferred adjudication that focuses on rehabilitation and treatment, rather than incarceration. The first episode explores the basics of and research behind family treatment courts through talking with Evan Elkin, the Executive Director of Reclaiming Futures. To listen and download episodes of this podcast, follow this  link to the Apple Podcast Store  or click  here to visit the NDCRC website . Episode 2 will be released in the next NDCRC newsletter!
Join the JDTC Interactive Listserv! 

The JDTC interactive listserv is up and running! If your JDTC is struggling to address an issue, chances are another court has dealt with it, too. This listserv provides courts with an opportunity to connect to the nationwide JDTC community, ask questions of others in the field, problem-solve, and share resources on issues unique to the JDTC field. To sign up, send an e-mail to  [email protected] with “Subscribe to listserv” in the subject line .
 
For more information on the Juvenile Drug Treatment Court Initiative at the Justice Programs Office at American University, go to  www.au-jdtc.org .
The National Drug Court Resource, Policy, and Evidence-Based Practice Center, funded by the Bureau of Justice Assistance and operated by the Justice Programs Office (JPO) at American University, strives to provide practitioners and professionals working in the drug court field with current resources and upcoming events.  Please email [email protected] with any inquiries.