Rural areas and their justice systems routinely have fewer resources and more barriers than their urban counterparts, such as availability of services, lack of transportation, and smaller workforces. Programs and practices that are effective in urban areas are often inappropriate and or lack supported research for implementation in rural areas. SJI supports rural courts by identifying promising and best practices, and promoting resources, education, and training opportunities uniquely designed for rural courts and court users.
Montana Community Justice Workers
The Montana Judicial Branch will create infrastructure to train staff, who already work at nonprofits serving consumer and tenant populations throughout Montana, to provide in-court representation. In doing so, we will establish a growing cadre of skilled Community Justice Workers, while simultaneously building state approval for these non-attorney advocates to represent consumer debtors and tenants in evictions.
New Mexico Supreme Court Assessment of Bar Licensure and Rural Access
The New Mexico Supreme Court (Court), in partnership with the National Center for State Courts (NCSC), will conduct an in-depth study of the process for admission to the New Mexico Bar. NCSC and AccessLex Institute will assist the Court in examining the process, including whether the current process satisfactorily assess professional competency to practice law, and identify the options available to the existing bar admissions system that would better fit the needs of and resources in New Mexico, including access to justice in rural areas of the state.
Arizona Legal Apprentice Program
The Arizona Judicial Branch’s Legal Apprentice Program is a two-year pilot project that will provide an alternative pathway to licensure for individuals who score between 260 and 269 on the bar exam, with an overall goal of increasing the number of attorneys available to practice in Arizona. Participants will work under a qualified supervising attorney in a rural area or public interest area. Upon successful completion, program participants will be fully admitted to the Arizona State Bar.
South Dakota Supreme Court Assessment of Bar Licensure and Rural Access
The South Dakota Supreme Court, with support from the National Center for State Courts (NCSC), will conduct an in-depth study of the process for admission to the South Dakota Bar. NCSC, together with its partner AccessLex Institute, will assist the Court in examining the bar admissions process, including whether the current process satisfactorily assesses professional competency to practice law, and identify the options available to the existing bar admissions process.
Rural Justice Collaborative
The Rural Justice Collaborative (RJC), coordinated by the National Center for State Courts in partnership with Rulo Strategies, examines the unique strengths of rural communities and highlights the cross-sector collaboration that is a hallmark of rural justice systems. The project will spotlight innovative practices, support rural communities in their efforts to build capacity and enhance partnerships, and strengthen communities’ outcomes. The RJC is guided by a cross-sector advisory board comprised of rural judges and other justice partners from different regions of the country and national stakeholder groups. The RJC consists of two key components: develop, deploy, and grow an online Rural Justice Resource Center, and establish strong peer to peer learning networks for rural communities.
The RJC focuses on the following components of rural justice that center on principles of access and fairness:
- Increasing access to behavioral health treatment.
- Reducing victimization.
- Facilitating employment/educational opportunities for justice involved individuals.
- Eliminating barriers of access to justice.
- Reducing incarceration.
- Facilitating reentry.
- Reducing the number of children in foster care due to substance use disorders.
Rural Responses to the Opioid Epidemic
The Rural Responses to the Opioid Epidemic leverages the combined resources and expertise of the U.S. Department of Justice, Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA), the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and the State Justice Institute (SJI), along with other federal partners, to reduce the morbidity and mortality associated with opioid overdoses among individuals who come in contact with law enforcement or are involved in the criminal justice system in high-risk rural communities and regions. Twenty-one rural communities across the country that have been substantially impacted by the opioid epidemic were selected to participate in the initiative, which includes a six-month planning phase to identify gaps and an 18-month implementation phase to expand or enhance existing efforts or implement new programs and practices.