Problem-Solving Courts

Mary Kay Hudson

Problem-Solving Court Administrator

Indiana Judicial Center

May 27, 2010

What we will cover today

• What they are

• Who they target

• How (Do?) they work

• Indiana PSC

• Problems

• Role of community corrections

What is a problem-solving court?

• General definition

…alternative approach to traditional case processing that focuses on outcomes related to victims, offenders, and society

(Center for Court Innovation, 2001) • Origins

What… Early models

• 10 Key Components of Drug Courts

• Essential Elements of Mental Health Courts

• 16 Strategies of Juvenile Drug Courts

What… General Principles • Enhanced information• Community engagement• Collaboration • Individualized justice • Accountability • Outcomes

Center for Court Innovation, 2007

Who

• Persons with mental illness

• Returning offenders

• CHINS parents

• DV perpetrators

• Homeless

• Prostitutes

How

• Indiana statutes & certification

• Local eligibility criteria

• Funding streams

How … Types of PSC • Drug

• Reentry

• Mental health

• Family

• DV

• Community

• Veterans

How (Do?)

• DC research conclusive

• Other promising models = CHINS, OVWI, mental health

• Research continues to emerge

Indiana PSC • Drug courts (30)

• Reentry courts (6)

• Community court (1)

• Mental health court (4)

• CHINS drug court (3)

Problems• Resource intensive

• Partnerships critical

• Requires training

• Flavor of the month

Problems

• Most active ingredients not yet identified

• Is something better than nothing?

• Some models well-researched, others not

Role of community corrections

• Eligibility

• Case management

• Service coordination

• Compliance monitoring

• Cognitive restructuring programming

Questions?

For more information…

Resources • National Drug Court Institute www.ndci.org• Center for Court Innovation www.courtinnovation.org

• National Center for State Courts www.ncsc.org• Reentry Policy Council reentrypolicy.org