Child and family protection services programs serve a critical role in social service and criminal justice systems. With a goal of reuniting families safely, they ultimately serve to protect children from neglect and abuse even if that means separating them from their biological families when needed.
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Evidence Based Practices Begin with Assessments and Much More
By: Kathy Waters The research is clear for changing the behavior of justice involved individuals, however, the research is useless if practitioners do not use and apply the research. Community corrections agencies must allow research and the principles of evidence based practices to drive policy regarding supervising the justice involved individuals under their control. Failing […]
Read MoreThe Landscape of Legalized and Medical Marijuana: Rocky Navigation for Treatment Courts and Probation Across the Country
Hon. Patrick C. Bowler, ret. Although the laws regarding the use of marijuana vary from state to state, the legalization of recreational marijuana and/or medical marijuana in some have created significant issues for probation departments and treatment courts. Probation departments are tasked with efforts to establish effective rehabilitation for probationers and treatment courts have successfully […]
Read MoreThe Impact of SUD and Mental Health on Healthcare Costs
People with SUD and other mental health diagnoses account for 60% of all healthcare spending, with just 7% of the spending attributed to mental health services and 53% attributed to physical health. [1,2] SUD-related physical health issues include emergency department visits, HIV or HEP-C treatments, repeat heart valve replacements, and neonatal abstinence syndrome, among others. […]
Read MorePolice Diversion Programs: From the Criminal Justice System and Into Treatment
Richmond, Va. – Police diversion programs are popping up all over the country, aiming to keep people out of jail by placing them into treatment programs. According to the National Institute of Justice (NIJ), “Police-initiated diversion programs are pre-court interventions or strategies that police can apply as an alternative to court processing or the imposition […]
Read MorePretrial Justice – An Effective Alternative for Incarceration
Richmond, Va. – People who cannot afford to post bail often remain in jail until their cases are resolved, while those with greater access to financial resources are able to secure liberty. But wealth does not determine risk, which is why national-, state-, and county-level entities are beginning to look at alternatives to incarceration for […]
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