Category: Announcements

The National Council of Juvenile and Family Court Judges (NCJFCJ), with funding from the State Justice Institute (SJI), is pleased to announce that they are seeking juvenile courts that are interested in participating in the Enhanced Juvenile Justice Guidelines Demonstration Sites Project. Applications are due by December 31, 2023.

What Does it Mean to be a Demonstration Site?

The jurisdictions that participate in the Enhanced Juvenile Justice Guidelines Demonstration Sites Project will engage in an eighteen-month process to identify and address issues in adjudicating and delivering services in juvenile delinquency cases. The Enhanced Juvenile Justice Guidelines identify many different areas that courts can consider for improvement including improving timelines for case processing; using risk/need assessment information; reducing the use of fines and fees; implementing alternatives to detention; collaborating with the education system to reduce school pathways to the justice system; identifying and addressing gaps in services, and many more. Jurisdictions who participate in the project will have access to regular assessment of court practice, technical assistance, strategic planning support, expert national training and trainers, and a peer support network. Please note that while there is no site-specific funding available, you will receive all of the support and tools you need to change your court practice.

The project is open to all courts that work with delinquent offenses. Your program should be judicially lead and be prepared to bring together a group of system stakeholders who are committed to changing court practice. A commitment from your lead judge and the approval of your presiding judge is required. Tribal courts are encouraged to apply.

Application direct link will be available soon. In the meantime, any questions regarding the application process please contact Jessica Pearce, Senior Site Manager, NCJFCJ at jpearce@ncjfcj.org or (775) 507-4799.

Upcoming Webinar! Ensuring Access to Medications for Opioid Use Disorder (MOUD) – Court Considerations. When? December 4th, 2023, at 12:00PM EST.

Medication for Opioid Use Disorder (MOUD), formerly known as Medication Assisted Treatment (MAT), which may be in combination with counseling and psychosocial services, is the evidence-based standard of care for treating opioid use disorder (OUD). However, access to and retention in MOUD remains limited in many jurisdictions.

This webinar will educate courts and their collaborative partners on:

-The Neurobiology of #OUD and how #MOUD works and their FDA-approved uses;

-MOUD myths and misconceptions;

-Basics of MOUD in court settings and judges’ roles and responsibilities to persons with OUD;

-Legal protections for persons taking legally-prescribed MOUD.

Register now: https://ncsc-org.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_3iQ_-eCmS-mcehS_9-cXqg?utm_campaign=422207_Webinar%3A%20Ensuring%20Access%20to%20Medications%20for%20Opioid%20Use%20Disorder%20%28MOUD%29%20-%20Court%20Considerations&utm_medium=email&utm_source=dotdigital&dm_i=7L57,91RZ,4VVT7N,1APF4,1#/registration

Upcoming #Webinar! Emerging Adults Online Training Series on October 17, 2023, at 1:30PM EST.

This National Center for State Courts webinar will launch training modules designed to equip attorneys and court professionals with the tools they need to better assist emerging adults (ages 18-25) in the #justice system.

The series includes modules on the topics of young #adult brain development, needs, risks, and protective factors for young adults, the behavioral health needs of young adults, and more! Each bite-sized module will include pre/post-tests for knowledge assessment, intertwined with scenario-based learning activities to enhance real-world application.

Register here: Webinar Registration – Zoom

Courts must also be prepared for cyberattacks on court systems, such as denial of service and ransomware attacks on court case management systems, websites, and other critical information technology infrastructure. SJI supports projects that assist courts in preparing for, and responding to, these attacks, and share lessons-learned to courts across the United States.

#Cybersecurity is one of SJI’s Priority Investment Areas. Take a look at some of our cybersecurity projects here: https://www.sji.gov/priority-investment-areas/cybersecurity/

Register now! Redesigning Legal Speaker Series: Exploring the Legal Tech Market on October 10th, 2023, at 1:00PM EST.

As part of (IAALS) Institute for the Advancement of the American Legal System‘s Redesigning Legal Speaker Series, on October 10th at 1:00PM EST, IAALS and its partners will explore how cutting-edge technology is shaping the future of law.

New technology is pushing the legal industry into the future faster than ever before. It will impact how lawyers practice, and how individuals and businesses will access legal services. These advancements can improve efficiency, reduce costs, and expand access to justice and legal services. However, they can also create new ethical concerns and the industry must remain on its toes to avoid unintended consequences.

This panel will feature Daniel Di Maria, Co-Founder and CRO at Spellbook, AI-powered legal automation and Bridget Mary McCormack, President & CEO, American Arbitration Association-International Centre for Dispute Resolution, whose conversation will be moderated by Damien Riehl, VP Solutions Champion.

Register here: Webinar Registration – Zoom

Upcoming Webinar! The National Center for State Courts (NCSC) will be hosting: AI and the Impact on the Practice of Law on September 21st, 2023, at 3:00PM EST.  The second webinar of The Promises and Perils of AI in the Courts Webinar Series. This second webinar will dive into important legal factors such as bias in AI, ethical and regulatory considerations, and the impact of AI on law firms. Register here.

Register today! Online Webinar Event on September 14th, 2023, at 1:00PM EST. Missed court appearances are leading causes of warrants and jail time in the U.S. Plus, they contribute to:

📊 Racial inequities in arrests
🕗 Pretrial process delays
💵 Huge court system costs

But this doesn’t have to be our reality. Sign up to get the latest research from experts—and their practical approaches to turning the tide.

Register here: Webinar Registration – Zoom

Register now! The Center for Justice Innovation (the Center) is pleased to announce an in-person Trauma-Informed Practice Strategy Lab for Criminal Courts (TIPS Lab) Symposium, funded by SJI, in Denver, Colorado on November 2-3, 2023, for practitioners, academics, and other stakeholders to share ideas, lessons learned, and discuss challenges to implementation of trauma-informed practices. This symposium will inform the development of a blueprint for implementation of practical strategies, which will include tools and a framework to assist courts in moving beyond training to sustained implementation.

The Symposium is scheduled for Thursday, November 2, 2023, at 9:00 a.m. to Friday, November 3, 2023, at 1:00 p.m. in Denver, Colorado at the Inverness Denver, a Hilton Golf & Spa Resort. This Symposium is funded by the State Justice Institute. This event is free to attend, and all attendee travel and hotel accommodations will be covered through federal grant funds. Participants must apply to attend and be approved by the Center before booking any travel or accommodations. Please click the link below to apply to attend the Symposium. In order to attend, each person interested in attending must click “apply to attend” below and complete the online form by 8:00 PM EST on September 15, 2023.

Trauma-Informed Practice Strategy Lab for Criminal Courts Symposium Tickets, Thu, Nov 2, 2023 at 9:00 AM | Eventbrite

If you have questions regarding attendance, please contact Alejandra Garcia, Associate Director of National Technical Assistance at garciaa@innovatingjustice.org. Please note that by completing this form, you are applying to attend the Symposium and acceptance is not guaranteed. If you are approved to attend, you will be contacted by Center staff and provided further information about hotel and travel.

Register here: Trauma-Informed Practice Strategy Lab for Criminal Courts Symposium Tickets, Thu, Nov 2, 2023 at 9:00 AM | Eventbrite

As cannabis legalization and regulation evolve, the United States is at a tipping point. These continued changes in laws are impacting our courts and society, and are creating a dynamic and sometimes confusing landscape for a variety of disciplines including judges, attorneys, law enforcement, drug court professionals, academia, the drug and alcohol testing industry, and employers’ human resource offices. As a result, the American Judges Association has partnered with the National Judicial College, the American Bar Association (ABA) Judicial Division; the ABA Tort, Trial, and Insurance Practice Section; the National Council for Juvenile and Family Court Judges; Cannabis Law Report; and the New England Association of Recovery Court Professionals to build on the success of last year’s Symposium, and again bring forward an interdisciplinary approach to the 2023 Symposium. This Symposium will bring together impacted disciplinary groups and allow for significant interaction, discussion, and knowledge-sharing. 

The Symposium partners have assembled the best faculty from across the country to discuss the most pressing cannabis related topics.  There will be 4 Keynotes, 12 Panels, and a Professional Facilitator to engage the attendees in discussion. The goals of the symposium are: 1) identify current issues related to the legalization of cannabis and its impact on judges, law enforcement, academia, drug court professionals, the drug and alcohol testing industry, attorneys; and human resources; 2) identify and analyze how cannabis-related issues are addressed by each discipline; and 3) develop an educated approach and plan to address the issues facing each discipline with a multidisciplinary perspective.

The event will be held December 1-3, 2023, at Portland State University and also online. Registration opens on August 1, 2023, and be accessed here: 2nd National Interdisciplinary Cannabis Symposium – NCJFCJ.