June 2019
Quick Look at What's Inside
ttt Transforming the US Justice System Report
American University School of Public Affairs (SPA) and the Justice Programs Office released a report with recommendations from experts to transform the justice system into one that is more just and fair.

The report was generated during a symposium that included a cross section of representatives from police departments, courts, and corrections, as well as SPA staff, faculty, and students. They came together to discuss trends, including patterns of racial and ethnic bias, prosecutorial discretion, and high incarceration and recidivism rates. They proposed evidence-based solutions for consideration of leaders and policymakers. Read it here .
ttt Reflecting on Managing Caseflow While Ensuring Effective Counsel
Last week, in partnership with the National Association for Court Management and supported by the State Justice Institute , the Justice Programs Office, Right to Counsel team held a meeting with judges and court administrators on how to enhance caseflow management to ensure effective assistance of counsel. The level of engagement and discussion that took place in the meeting both impressed and encouraged us all. Right to Counsel National Campaign Director, Genevieve Citrin Ray, wrote a blog on her takeaways. Make sure to give it a read .

Over the next few months, our JPO team will create a white paper, based on the meeting, that lays out a framework for all courts to use to enhance caseflow management by ensuring effective assistance of counsel. We look forward to helping courts implement and build on the recommendations that will be included. Stay tuned !
ttt Courts Can Stop the Re-victimization of Survivors of Human Trafficking
There is a pervasive stereotype that survivors of human trafficking are physically isolated from society, hidden in homes or businesses, and rarely have meaningful contact with other people. While extreme physical isolation and restraint is certainly a feature of some human trafficking cases, it is not inclusive of all survivors’ experiences.

Survivors can walk in their communities while their trafficker controls their income, behavior, and will with threats, fraud, or false promises.

So how do we identify survivors and provide them with the resources they need to remove themselves from their exploiters’ control? Criminal court systems can be a crucial point of contact between survivors and public society, as many survivors are arrested and prosecuted for crimes related to their trafficking. However, too often, courts fail to recognize survivors of human trafficking facing criminal charges as victims in need of support.

MOSAICS seeks to change that. MOSAICS, a training and technical assistance project by JPO, will assist courts to better understand and meet the needs of survivors of both sex and labor trafficking. Applications to receive training are now open! Apply here .
ttt Opioids and Civil Legal Aid
Policymakers know the opioid crisis requires a multi-disciplinary response that includes law enforcement, doctors, nurses, mental health professionals, social workers, and case managers. Civil legal aid providers are also essential partners in solving one of America’s most pressing public health issues. Legal aid providers can help individuals with opioid-related substance use disorders secure housing and health care services, ensure their children are cared for, escape domestic violence, and remove obstacles to employment, ultimately increasing prospects for recovery. They also help grandparents and other extended family members with free legal help to care for the children when the opioid epidemic robs those children of their parents.

For more information, including state-administered federal block grants that allow spending on legal services, see The Justice in Government Project’s opioid fact sheet and a recently published article on the topic in the MIE Journal .
ttt Veterans Justice and Mental Health - PTSD Awareness Month
The Veterans Justice and Mental Health (VJMH) Newsletter's June issue provides information and resources related to PTSD education and efforts to address PTSD among the military veteran and service member population. The VJMH is a monthly electronic newsletter dedicated to informing policy, practice, and scholarship through the distribution of current veterans treatment court-related resources. To subscribe to the VJMH or view archived issues, visit ndcrc.org .

WEBINAR : We are hosting a webinar on June 25 that delves into the operation of Veterans Treatment Courts across the US. The expert panel will discuss the complexities of the implementation, related implications, lessons learned, and recommendations for the future. Register now !
ttt Call for Papers for the Winter 2019 Issue of the Drug Court Review
The Drug Court Review invites manuscript submissions for the Winter 2019 issue focusing on tribal healing to wellness court programs and rural treatment court programs. The deadline for submissions is July 21, 2019, with a publication date of January 2020.

The Drug Court Review is a peer-reviewed journal established to promote research on issues relevant to the treatment court field and to foster a wider understanding of the programs and participants, identifying challenges faced and successes achieved.
Stay Connected with Us!
Love our content? Follow us on social media to keep up to date with our publications, resources, and events.

Visit the JPO blog to read posts from our staff on issues ranging from the right to counsel, juvenile justice, and treatment courts.