Twenty members from area judicial districts including prosecutors, defense attorneys, addiction treatment specialists and supporting services attended a multi-day recovery court training session led by All Rise, (formerly the National Association of Drug Court Professionals (NADCP)) supporting recovery court efforts in the 11th Judicial District consisting of Cherokee, Crawford, and Labette Counties. The 11th Judicial District, in collaboration with the Kansas Office of Judicial Administration and CHC/SEK, applied for and was awarded this training opportunity being one of eleven awardees of over three hundred applicants.
“A successful recovery court reduces crime and incarcerations, and offers hope, change and opportunity for its participants,” said presenter Carolyn Hardin, Chief of Training and Research for All Rise for Justice (“All Rise”).
All Rise training is provided by the Bureau of Justice Assistance to ensure that courts are looking at what the science and the research and best practices say to develop and start their program, Hardin said.
An estimated 85% of the U.S. prison population meet the criteria for substance use disorder or became involved in the court system for crimes involving drugs or drug use. Recovery court works by bringing legal, social, medical and other services together to support a lifestyle of positive change and recovery for the court’s participants.
“Research shows that incarceration is not the answer for many offenders, and that treatment courts are the most successful justice intervention for individuals with substance use and mental health disorders,” Hardin said.
Adult recovery courts yield increases in participant employment, education, family functioning, and financial stability for participants. Communities see reductions in crime of up to 58%, in addition to decreasing the costs of incarceration.
“What’s been great about being here this week is that this program has already started a pilot program,” Hardin said. “They had already done a lot of the great work and are right at where they should be in developing their program truly serving lots of people who have substance abuse issues to really get them into a path of recovery where they’re no longer using drugs and alcohol, that they are actually being back into society being productive and paying their bills and living a different life.”
“This is really great opportunity for this community, and we applaud you for putting efforts into individuals that many people might discard and that’s not what they’re doing.”
The training was held at the John Parolo Education Center on the Pittsburg campus of CHC/SEK. You can learn more about recovery courts at https://allrise.org.