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Problem solving courts.

LOCATION:  South Tower, Terrace Level, Rm T540

HOURS: Monday-Friday, 8:00am - 4:30pm

PHONE: 240-777-9141

The Circuit Court has two problem-solving courts:

In Montgomery County, Adult Drug Court is a collaborative partnership between the Montgomery County Circuit Court, other law enforcement agencies, the health treatment system, and program participants to end the cycle of addiction that leads to crime.

Montgomery County's Mental Health Court (MHC) is split between the District and Circuit Courts. MHC is a problem-solving court with a dedicated docket used to divert defendants who have committed crimes because of a severe, persistent mental illness away from prosecution and jail and into a structured, individualized program.

Maryland Problem-Solving Courts

Section title.

The Maryland Problem-Solving Courts are housed in the Administrative Office of the Courts for the state of Maryland. The office is responsible for helping Maryland’s problem-solving courts through a combination of development strategy, maintenance and the growth of a collaborative rehabilitative system. Drug treatment courts specifically serve defendants and convicted individuals, juveniles and parents with pending child welfare cases who experience alcohol and other chemical dependence issues. All primary decision points, from intake criteria and eligibility requirements to the end of the program, involve collaborative agreements among assigned drug court team members. The Mental Health Court is a specialized court which serves defendants with mental illness by offering a problem-solving approach in lieu of the traditionally oppositional criminal court processing. Maryland Problem-Solving Courts also has a separate court to serve justice involved youth and families who are facing child services court matters. For more information about specific services or to begin the intake process, use the contact information provided on the organization website.

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Mental Health Court

Mental health court.

 May 10, 2017, the Circuit Court for Baltimore City was officially designated as a problem-solving court by the Maryland Court of Appeals.  The Office of Problem-Solving Courts (OPSC) of the Maryland Administrative Office of the Courts defines a Mental Health Court as a specialized court docket for defendants with mental illness. The purpose of the court is to provide a consistent and informed approach to address defendants with mental health issues and to reduce the participants contact with the criminal Justice system. Participants are identified through mental health screenings and assessments and voluntarily participate in a judicially supervised treatment plan developed by a team of court staff and mental health professionals. The team includes the judge, the assistant state’s attorney, a public defender, a court clinician, a court coordinator, a court case manager, a representative from the Community Forensic Aftercare Program (CFAP), specially assigned probation agents, and a courtroom clerk. 

Generally, the three types of mental health issues that are addressed in MHC are as follows:

• Not Criminally Responsible (NCR)  

NCR pleas come exclusively from defense counsel.  MHC orders the NCR evaluations and if the opinion of the evaluator is that the defendant is NCR and if the defendant wishes to proceed with the plea, because it is entirely the defendant’s choice, A guilty plea is taken, and the MHC judge makes the finding of Not Criminally Responsible.  The judge signs the commitment for treatment in a forensic hospital, and eventually, if the administrative law judge finds the defendant eligible for conditional release, the judge signs the order.  If it is alleged that it has been violated, the judge signs a hospital warrant for the defendant to return to the hospital.  

Anyone may refer a defendant to the MHC for competency. If competency is raised, then the defendant comes before the Mental Health Court for the judge to determine if there is good cause to order an evaluation.  The initial evaluation is conducted by Circuit Court Medical Office and further evaluation may take place in a forensic hospital.  If the defendant is opined incompetent and dangerous by the evaluator, the MHC judge signs commitment order to the Maryland Department of Health.  If the opinion is incompetent to stand trial but not dangerous, the defendant will be released into the community on pre-trial supervision with conditions tailored to meet his mental health needs.  CFAP monitors the defendant’s compliance in the community and the defendant must also appear for frequent status conferences scheduled on the MHC docket.

• MHC Probation

MHC also has a probation docket for those defendants who are competent to stand trial and criminally responsible but have a mental illness diagnosis such as schizophrenia or bipolar disorder.  The goal of the MHC is to provide those defendants diagnosed with mental illness with a highly structured treatment plan that addresses the individuals needs specifically and provides them with resources to succeed after probation ends.  Referrals to the MHC probation docket come from judges, defense attorneys, assistant state’s attorneys.  Everyone on the MHC team participates in deciding whether the defendant is an appropriate candidate and eligible for the docket.  If a defendant is accepted onto the mental health court docket, the defendant pleads guilty and is placed on mental health court probation. If a defendant fails to follow the conditions of his probation, the team discusses sanctions or termination of the probation.

For further details or any questions please contact the Mental Health Court Coordinator:

Tangier Hollis Baltimore City Circuit Mental Health Court Coordinator 100 N. Calvert Street, Room 130M Baltimore, Maryland 21202 Telephone number (410) 396-1068 [email protected]

111 N. Calvert Street Baltimore, MD 21202 Phone: (410) 396-5188 Business Hours: 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

100 North Calvert Street Baltimore, MD 21202 Phone: (410) 396-5188 Business Hours: 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

300 North Gay Street Baltimore, MD 21202 Phone: (443) 263-8706 Business Hours: 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

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What Are Problem-Solving Courts?

Jul 6, 2017 | Maryland Law

Problem-solving courts help the judicial system to respond to the needs of litigants by addressing underlying issues which result in litigants utilizing the court system. Whether using innovative approaches to address social problems, forming community collaborative partnerships, or coordinating outside services including treatment programs, the problem-solving courts are changing the ways that the system manages certain cases.

Problem-solving courts often serve specific targeted populations including offenders with mental illness, offenders with a substance addiction, first time offenders, veterans, and repeat offenders. In Maryland, the Office of Problem-Solving Courts for the Administrative Office of the Courts is responsible for overseeing the creation of problem-solving programs in the state.

Keep reading to learn more about problem-solving courts in Maryland.

Which Courts Offer Problem-Solving Services?

Although not all court venues within Maryland offer problem-solving services and not all jurisdictions have operational problem-solving courts, some courts in Maryland do offer problem-solving services in a variety of areas including adult drug courts, juvenile drug courts, family/dependency drug courts, DUI/drug court, mental health court, truancy reduction court, re-entry court, veterans court, and back on track court.

• Maryland Drug Courts offer specialized judicial intervention that address drug and dependency-related issues including substance abuse treatment for criminal defendants, offenders, juvenile offenders, and parents in certain child welfare matters. Maryland’s first drug treatment court was established in Baltimore City in 1994.
• Maryland Mental Health Courts offer specialized dockets addressing matters related to psychiatric disabilities in order to reduce recidivism and promote rehabilitation in individuals who enter the criminal justice system having committed a crime due to mental illness. Maryland’s first mental health court was established in the Baltimore City District Court in 2003.
• Maryland Truancy Courts offer specialized proactive interventions to improve school attendance, school achievement, and attitudes toward education. Maryland’s first truancy court was established in Wicomico County in 2005.
• Maryland Veterans Courts offer court-supervised comprehensive treatment-based services for former military service members charged with certain crimes and who have substance abuse or mental health issues. The Veterans Court in Maryland began in Prince George’s County in 2015.
• The Back on Track court , the first of its kind in Maryland, was approved for the Circuit Court for Prince George’s County in 2016. The program aims to reduce recidivism by investing in first-time offenders who agree to the program including college classes, community service, and scheduled drug tests.

For more on problem-solving courts in Maryland, contact us online today. For a consultation, call (301) 563-6685 , or toll-free at 1-888-558-7871 .

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2023 Annual Problem-Solving Court Symposium

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Incentives, Sanctions and Therapeutic Adjustments

Treatment courts seek to modify participant behavior to increase certain desirable behaviors and decrease undesirable ones. Participants will learn how to apply research into the psychology of behavior modification and proximal and distal behaviors to effectively employ incentives, sanctions, and therapeutic adjustments to change the behaviors of individuals in the treatment court. The interactive exercise will allow teams to discuss the importance of formulating a strategy for applying graduated sanctions and incentives and appropriate treatment responses, the importance of being consistent in those responses, and the importance of not using treatment as a sanction.

Learning Objectives:

• Recognize the effect of immediate consequences in modifying client behavior.
• Identify the distinctions between court-imposed incentives and sanctions and treatment responses.
• Understand the necessity to formulate a strategy for applying graduated incentives and sanctions and appropriate treatment responses.

Law School 101

This session presents information on legal issues that occur in drug courts. During this lecture and discussion, participants will learn how federal laws regarding privacy and due process affect their drug court programs.

• Identify legal issues that occur in drug courts.
• Recognize constitutional and due process issues that affect the drug court program.
• Identify how federal confidentiality regulations (42 C.F.R. and HIPAA) are applied in the drug court setting.
• Describe ethics laws that influence drug court team member roles in the drug court process.

Coping with the Death of a Participant

Coming soon!

Phase Structure

This session gives an overview of the necessity of distinct phases for adult treatment court participants to progress through on their journey toward commencement from the program.

• Learn the importance of using risk, need, and responsitivity in developing phases.
• Learn the necessity of program phases that are consistent with treatment requirements and goals.
• Design written materials that adequately communicate what is expected of participants during each phase of the adult treatment court program.

Education and Common Mental Health Disorders

This presentation provides an overview of mental health disorders as described in the most recent edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition, Text Revision (DSM-5-TR) published by the American Psychiatric Association in March, 2022. We will begin by defining mental health disorders and providing information regarding their incidence in the United States. We will then cover the different categories of disorders, focusing on those that are most likely to be encountered in the courts. Specific attention will be paid to substance use disorders, personality disorders, psychotic disorders, and mood disorders. We will also discuss co-occurring disorders and their prevalence among the justice-involved. The presentation will conclude with material on treatment components and further resources.

• Learn the general categories of mental health disorders.
• Become familiar with the specific types of mental health disorders that are most common among the justice-involved.
• Learn about the prevalence of co-occurring disorders among the justice involved and how these challenging disorders can be treated more effectively.

Know Your Role: Duties and Responsibilities

Presenter: Judge Mary Jane Knisely – NDCI Consultant

Date: April 17, 2023

Time: 3:30pm – 4:45pm EST

This session introduces the adult treatment court team. It identifies the duties and responsibilities of each team member while highlighting their impact on outcomes. Additionally, this presentation discusses organizations, agencies, or individuals that are not team members but may serve an ancillary supporting role.

• Identify who comprises an adult treatment court team.
• Learn the roles of each team member.
• Identify how team members’ participation impact cost-effectiveness and recidivism.

18th Annual Problem-Solving Court Symposium:

Embracing change & transformation.

Tuesday, May 2, 2023, 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM EST

ABOUT THE EVENT

The 18th Annual Problem-Solving Court Symposium brings Problem-Solving Court practitioners from across Maryland to discuss resources and generate ideas on how to embrace change and transform our programs to be new and innovative. Participants of this event can expect a lineup of engaging speakers.

WHO SHOULD ATTEND

Problem-Solving Court Judges, Coordinators, Case Managers, State’s Attorneys, Defense Attorneys, Public Safety Agents, Law Enforcement Officers, Court, and Treatment Staff.

The 18th Annual Problem-Solving Court Symposium brings A-List speakers to this virtual format to provide innovative presentations, case-studies, and panel discussions. These presenters come from around Maryland and across the U.S. and intend to generate ideas on how to embrace change and transform our programs to be new and innovative.

Kimberly M. Davis

Kimberly M. Davis Read More

Kevin Baldwin

Kevin Baldwin Read More

Gray Barton

Gray Barton Director, Office of Problem-Solving Courts Read More

William Blakely

William Blakely Read More

Kristin Coad

Kristin Coad Read More

Chyanne Cook

Chyanne Cook, Director, House of Ruth Read More

Robert Davison

Robert Davison, R & R Recovery Read More

Jayme Derbyshire

Jayme Derbyshire Read More

Michael Guilbault

Michael Guilbault, Behavioral Health Administration Read More

Carolyn Hardin

Carolyn Hardin Read More

Shaelun Jackson

Shaelun Jackson Read More

Kelly Loo Jones

Kelly Loo Jones Read More

Mary Jane Knisley

Mary Jane Knisley Read More

Brian Lovins

Brian Lovins Read More

Brian Meyer

Brian Meyer Read More

Greg Pinksi

Greg Pinksi Read More

Amanda Square, M.D., M.P.H.

Amanda Square , M.D., M.P.H. Read More

Log - In, Visit Information Booths, Explore Virtual Platform -->

Welcome -->.

Director, Office of Problem-Solving Courts

Opening Remarks -->

Hon. Kimberly Davis

Baltimore County District Court

Reflections from a Problem-Solving Court “Dropout”   

R & R Recovery

Moderator: Shaelun Jackson

Harford County Circuit Adult Drug and Recovery Court

Morning Break -->

Incentives, sanctions, and therapeutic adjustments   .

Mary Jane Knisley ,  NADCP

Break - Visit Information Booths, Explore Virtual Platform -->

Cannabis conundrum   .

Jayme Derbyshire ,  Montgomery County Department of Police

Education and Common Mental Health Disorders   

Kevin Baldwin,  Applied Research Services

Family Treatment Courts: What Are They and How Can They Improve Outcomes for Families Affected by Substance Use?   

Kelly Loo Jones, C hildren and Family Futures

William Blakeley, C hildren and Family Futures

The Dynamics of Intimate Partner Violence   

Chyanne Cook, Director, House of Ruth

Lunch Break -->

Attention deficit disorder in court involved young adults and juveniles   .

Michael Guilbault, Behavioral Health Administration

Amanda Square, M.D., MPH, Director of Adolescent Services at Spring Grove Hospital Center

Disrupting Stigma and Building Recovery Capital to Improve Outcomes for Families   

Human trafficking and sex work   , law school 101   .

Greg Pinkski ,  NADCP

The Evolving Role of Supervision in Treatment Courts  

Brian Lovins ,  Justice System Partners

Coping with the Death of a Participant    

Phase Structure   

Strengthening Families Affected by Substance Use to Disrupt Intergenerational Cycles of Multi-System Involvement   

A blueprint for phases  .

Carolyn Hardin ,  NADCP

Closing Plenary

Know your role: duties and responsibilities   .

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Do i need to register to attend the 18th annual problem-solving court symposium, how do i log in on the day of the event, will i be able to take away any documents or files from the event, will content be available before or after the event, where will the event be held, do i need to download or install any software to be able to attend this event, the timings of the live sessions are not convenient for me. can i still participate in the event, are ceu’s provided, can i invite my colleagues and friends to attend the event, christina buck.

Christina M. Buck is a native of Prince George’s County, Maryland, where she graduated from the University of Maryland College Park with a Bachelor of Arts in Criminology in May of 1996. She has worked in the field of probation since 1999 as a juvenile counselor, agent, and now program coordinator of the Circuit Court for Prince George’s County Adult Drug Court Program where she started in 2009. She is dedicated in her service to the community but is most proud and blessed of being a working mother of thirteen-year-old twin boys, Chase and Bryce.

Officer Derbyshire has been with Montgomery County Department of Police for twenty years. She currently serves as the coordinator for their Chemical Test for Alcohol Unit. In this capacity, she is responsible for various training initiatives, to include an initiative known as Cannabis Impairment Detection Labs. Jayme is a certified Drug Recognition Expert and has spoken locally and nationally on impaired driving. For a number of years, Jayme has also had the privilege of offering testimony in front of Maryland’s General Assembly in an effort to increase traffic safety through legislative efforts.

Jayme is a recipient of the Maryland Highway Safety Office’s Innovative Program Award, the Montgomery County Department of Police Chief’s Award, the 2021 Sons of the American Revolution Law Enforcement Award, the 2021 Kevin E. Quinlan Advocacy Award, and is Maryland’s 2022 Drug Recognition Expert of the Year.

Shaelun Jackson holds a master’s degree in addictions counseling and has worked in the human services field for 14 years, with the last 11 focusing on holistic care in recovery. She started her journey in specialty courts as a substance use disorder counselor for Cecil County’s Adult Drug Court. Later, she moved on to Baltimore City’s Family Recovery Program, where she served as a case manager, then program supervisor. These led to her role as the court coordinator for Harford County’s Circuit Adult Drug and Family Recovery Courts.

Chynanne “Chy” Cook, BS

Chyanne “Chy” Cook is a Philadelphia native, first generation college graduate, feminist, artist, and business owner. She currently works as the Community Educator for the House of Ruth Maryland, one of the leading organizations fighting to end violence against women and their children against intimate partner violence in families and communities.

Chy has been passionate about outreach most of her life, with a specific focus on women for the last five years. Previously working with FORCE’s ‘Youth Voices for Consent’ and Morgan State University’s Project S.T.E.P (Supporting through Education and Prevention), Chy has committed the next stage in her life to giving back to her communities in both Baltimore and Philadelphia. Chy’s brand “50ShadesofYOU” is a daily reflection of the work she has decided so much time, tears, vulnerability, and healing to. The lifestyle brand is devoted to exposing POC to self-love through healing, growth, and service.

Chy thanks her alma mater Morgan State University for reminding her who she is and the importance of living her life to the fullest. She holds a Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration and Entrepreneurship.

Dr. Lovins is a Principal at JSP. He earned his PhD in Criminology from the University of Cincinnati, and he is the current President for the American Probation and Parole Association (APPA). Prior to JSP, Dr. Lovins worked for Harris County Community Supervision and Corrections Department (CSCD) as the Assistant Director. He was tasked with developing and implementing agency wide change plans to drive increased successful completion rates.

Dr. Lovins has been instrumental in introducing the referee/coach conversation to the field. In 2018, Dr. Lovins and colleagues published the initial article “Probation Officer as a Coach: Building a New Professional Identity” in Federal Probation. Since then, he has delivered hundreds of conference presentations and invited talks regarding the referee/coach concept. Dr. Lovins routinely consults with agencies regarding their implementation of a coaching framework within the context of evidenced-based interventions.

Dr. Lovins has received the 2020 Edward J. Latessa Practitioner Research Award from the American Society of Criminology-Division on Corrections and Sentencing for his continued body of work in helping community corrections move forward. He has also been honored with the Dr. Simon Dinitz Public Service Award for his work and dedication in helping correctional agencies adopt evidence-based programs and the David Dillingham Award, as well as a being recognized as a Distinguished Alumnus from the University of Cincinnati. His publications include articles on risk assessment, sexual offenders, effective interventions, and cognitive-behavioral interventions.

Robert Davidson

I have been in recovery since July 11, 2017, thanks to the NA program. I started and own R & R Recovery Housing, which is clean and sober housing for people in recovery. R & R recovery housing welcomes residents from all diverse backgrounds, helping them to regain stability and adjust to daily living while in recovery. I also started an annual softball tournament for recovery teams and first responders’ teams to unite the two sides of our community.

Monica Christofferson, J.D.

Monica Christofferson, J.D., is the associate director for the Technical Assistance Department at the Center for Court Innovation. In this role, she provides expert assistance to states around the country on implementation and enhancement of treatment courts. Prior to her work at the Center, Ms. Christofferson developed, implemented, and directed the specialized domestic violence docket in Cuyahoga County Domestic Relations Court. Ms. Christofferson has also worked as a crisis intervention specialist and independent living program manager. Ms. Christofferson received her B.A. in political science from John Carroll University and J.D. from Catholic University of American, Columbus School of Law. Ms. Christofferson has presented on her expertise at local, state, and national conferences.

Amanda Square, M.D., M.P.H

AMANDA SQUARE, M.D., M.P.H. is a board-certified Child, Adolescent, Adult and Forensic Psychiatrist. She is the Director of Adolescent Services at Spring Grove Hospital Center, which houses the only state hospital adolescent psychiatry unit. In that capacity she provides clinical treatment and forensic assessments for adolescents with diverse psychiatric needs. She also supervises and educates medical students, residents, Child and Adolescent Psychiatry fellows, and Forensic Psychiatry fellows. Dr. Square is an adjunct assistant professor with the University of Maryland’s Department of Psychiatry.

In addition to her role at Spring Grove Hospital Center, Dr. Square is the Senior Medical Advisor for the Maryland Department of Health, Office of Juvenile Pretrial Services. In this role she conducts and reviews competency to proceed evaluations. Further, she provides annual training to professionals involved in performing competency to proceed evaluations and those administering competency attainment services for Maryland juveniles.

Dr. Square earned her medical degree from Yale University and Master of Public Health from Harvard University. She completed her Psychiatry residency and Child and Adolescent Psychiatry fellowship at Yale University and a fellowship in Forensic Psychiatry at University of Maryland. Prior to relocating to Maryland, Dr. Square was an Assistant Professor at Yale Child Study Center and worked as an Adolescent Psychiatrist at Yale New Haven Hospital. She is licensed to practice medicine in Maryland, Connecticut, Colorado, and Texas. Her research interests include evidenced-based interventions in juvenile detention centers.

Teresa Chandler

Teresa Chandler, BA is a national trainer for Great Lakes Training, LLC., a Michigan-based technical assistance and training group. Additionally, Mrs. Chandler is a 29-year veteran of the Michigan Department of Corrections (MDOC), and currently serves as a MDOC Communications and Culture Training Specialist and Master Trainer. She specializes in the training and support of Motivational Interviewing, Case Management, Violence Prevention, Domestic Violence Prevention and Trauma Informed Systems (SAMSHA). Teresa is a member of the Motivational Interviewing Network of Trainers (MINT) and has trained multiple court and treatment groups across the USA. Mrs. Chandler has been part of a national faculty, focusing on substance-dependency treatment providers and supervisors for the National Association of Drug Court Professionals (NADCP), the National Drug Court Institute (NDCI) and the American Society for Addiction Medicine (ASAM).

Jonathan Dansicker

Jon Dansicker began his career with the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs in November 2011. He previously worked as a contractor with the Department of Defense for 5 years. He earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Criminal Justice from Stevenson University and a Master’s Degree in Leadership and Management from Notre Dame of Maryland. He is a Marine Corps Veteran, serving from 2000 -2008. He resides in Havre de Grace, Maryland, spending most of his time on the Susquehanna River.

Kristen E. DeVall

Kristen E. DeVall received her Ph.D. in sociology from Western Michigan University in 2008. At present, she is the co-director of the National Drug Court Resource Center and a professor of sociology and criminology at the University of North Carolina Wilmington. In addition, she has conducted evaluations of numerous treatment court programs and other criminal justice initiatives in Michigan and North Carolina since 2004. Several statewide evaluations (i.e., Michigan’s Swift and Sure Sanctions Probation Program & North Carolina’s Treatment Alternatives for Safe Communities) have involved the collection and analysis of both quantitative and qualitative data, as well as the merging of large datasets. Recent publications have appeared in Crime & Delinquency, Sociological Imagination, The Journal of Drug Issues, The Prison Journal, International Journal of Offender Therapy and Comparative Criminology, and Substance Use and Misuse. . Dr. DeVall has also garnered over $11 million in grant funding from SAMHSA, BJA, and others to support various treatment courts & other criminal justice programs. In addition, she worked as a case manager for a community corrections program in Kalamazoo, Michigan, for seven years. Providing direct services to individuals involved with the criminal justice system allowed her to see firsthand how the system operates and identify opportunities for system-level and policy change. Overall, her work seeks to bridge the gap between academia and practitioners, as well as influence the development of evidence-based policies and practices.

Michael T. Guilbault, Ph.D. is a psychologist licensed in Maryland and Washington DC. He attained his Ph.D. in Counseling Psychology from Howard University in Washington DC. His clinical interests are in forensic psychology, psychoeducational assessment, and social justice and advocacy. His interest in forensics originated from his belief in fairness and in exploring opportunities to redirect youthful indiscretions. He trained and was previously employed at DC Superior Court’s Child Guidance Clinic and he also worked six years at Patuxent Institution for Maryland’s Department of Public Safety and Correctional Services (DPSCS).

Dr. Guilbault currently works for the state of Maryland's Department of Health (MDH) as their Director of Juvenile Forensics. He and his team manage a team of psychologists/psychiatrists that contract with the state to perform competency to proceed evaluations on Maryland juveniles. They also oversee groups of counselors, social workers, and special educators that administer competency attainment services to youth found not competent but having the ability to attain competency in court-related matters. Dr. Guilbault communicates with stakeholders such as judges/magistrates, attorneys, and case managers and testifies at court hearings when necessary. He is also involved with research exploring MDH’s juvenile competency process and outcomes. He holds positions on the State Advisory Board for Juvenile Services and the Juvenile Justice Reform Council.

Dr. Guilbault also consults with groups like the Innocence Project, Maryland Office of the Public Defender, and local university reentry clinics related to inmates serving life sentences in Maryland. Academically, Dr. Guilbault is a clinical assistant professor with the University of Maryland's Psychology Clinic. In College Park, he conducts psychoeducational evaluations on a primarily adult student population seeking help for issues related to ADHD, learning disorders, mood concerns, and anxiety.

Anastasia Edmonston, MS, CRC

Anastasia Edmonston, MS CRC, currently serves as the project coordinator for the Maryland Behavioral Health Administration’s Federal Traumatic Brain Injury Partner Grant. In this capacity, she provides coordination of project initiatives including training on the topics of brain injury, person centered thinking and planning to professionals, including certified peer specialists who work in the fields of aging, mental health and addiction and law enforcement. She obtained her MS in Rehabilitation Counseling from Boston University and is a certified rehabilitation counselor. She earned a post graduate certificate in Instructional Systems Development from the University of Maryland, Baltimore County in 2014.

Jennifer Foley, BS, CADC

Ms. Foley is a senior program associate at Children and Family Futures (CFF). In this role, she serves as an advisor and technical consultant to states, counties, tribes, and regions across the country in issues related to substance abuse, child welfare, and the courts, providing and coordinating various levels of technical assistance for multiple projects. She has dedicated herself to women with substance abuse issues for over 25 years. Originally from California, she moved to Oregon for college, receiving a B.S. degree from the University of Oregon in sociology, with an area of concentration in substance abuse and prevention. She spent 11 years in Eugene at the Relief Nursery’s Accessing Success Recovery Support Program. Initially a peer support specialist, she advanced to alcohol & drug counselor, eventually managing the Recovery Support Program for six years. Her focus was serving parents with substance use disorders involved in child welfare. In 2006, she spent seven years as a caseworker within Child Welfare. In 2013, she accepted the position as the women’s treatment services coordinator and the Access to Recovery project director with the Oregon Health Authority, and Oregon’s (NASADAD) Women’s Service Network Coordinator.

Dawnia R. Flonnoy, MA

MMs. Dawnia Flonnoy currently serves as a senior program associate with the Sobriety Treatment and Recovery Teams (START) at Children and Family Futures (CFF). In this capacity, she provides technical assistance to state and county child welfare jurisdictions for the implementation of the START model. Ms. Flonnoy has 22 years of professional social work experience. Ms. Flonnoy’s personal experience with familial substance abuse has been a driving force for her career path. Prior to joining CFF, Ms. Flonnoy was employed with the Public Children’s Services Administration in Cuyahoga County and Greene County where she worked for both Employment Family Services and Children and Family Services. While with Children and Family Services, Ms. Flonnoy served as a START social service worker and later, as a START supervisor. While working in child welfare, Ms. Flonnoy was also a part of the Cuyahoga County Family Drug Court team and facilitated monthly meetings with local substance use and mental health providers. Additionally, Ms. Flonnoy has experience providing training on child welfare, prenatal substance exposure and substance use disorders to university students, hospitals, and community organizations. Ms. Flonnoy holds expertise in the areas of child welfare, juvenile court, leadership, teaming, and collaborative practice. Ms. Flonnoy graduated from Wilberforce University in 1997 with a Bachelor of Arts in Rehabilitation and Corrections and obtained her Master of Arts in Justice Administration from Tiffin University in 2004.

Dr. Jocelyn Gainers

Dr. Jocelyn Chaney-Gainers is president and CEO of The Family Recovery Program Inc., which serves Baltimore City residents who have lost custody of their children because of substance abuse. She brings more than 30 years of experience in the field of substance use disorders and recovery. A certified addictions counselor with expertise in working with adolescents, adults and couples in both group and individual settings, she is also a trainer and consultant for human service programs. Dr. Chaney-Gainers had a vision to create housing for parents in the program because housing is a significant challenge for parents once they have been reunited with their children. With the help of others, Dr. Chaney-Gainers bought and renovated a 28,000-square-foot Catholic school that is now The Harry and Jeanette Weinberg Building at Sage Center, where families can live while parents get jobs, return to college, and make other important life decisions.

Colleen Gibbons

Colleen Gibbons is the deputy director of the Center for Court Innovation’s Upstate office. Colleen works on a variety of state court initiatives, including supporting the expansion of opioid courts; developing new projects in the criminal, civil and family court systems; and overseeing the office’s numerous existing initiatives. In addition, Colleen works with the Center’s National Technical Assistance team, helping to provide training and technical assistance to jurisdictions across the country on a wide range of justice issues. Prior to working at the Center, Colleen practiced not-for-profit and elder law at a private law firm. Colleen completed her J.D. at the Syracuse University College of Law. She received her M.S. and Ph.D. in Human and Community Development at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, and her B.S. in exceptional education at Buffalo State College. She completed her post-doctoral work at Syracuse University’s Falk College as the Project Manager for a National Institutes of Health grant.

Clemson University BA 1988

• Widener University JD 1992
• Judicial Law Clerk, Frederick County Circuit Court Judges 1992-1993
• Chief of Felony Narcotics Division - 1999-2020
• Deputy State's Attorney - 2002- 2020
• Founding Member of Frederick County Drug Treatment Court and Assigned Prosecutor - 2005-2020
• Retired - 2020

Dr Hugh Holder

Dr. Hugh Holder is a retired internist physician who lives with his wife, Jackie and daughter, Alicia in Silver Spring, Maryland. He is an avid amateur gardener who loves growing vegetables and flowers even though rabbits, deer and other critters share the reaping. Hugh’s family worships in the Methodist tradition, trying to keep the spirit of volunteerism alive. Dr. Holder wrote his first book called “Sharing my Soul” in 2020 and is a former graduate of Mental Health Court in April 2019.

Margaret Kaiser

I enrolled in the Opiate Recovery Court Program in December of 2016. In January of 2017, I entered a detox facility and went directly from there into a yearlong sober living program for women called the Char Hope Foundation in Harford County, MD. In November 2017, I became the house manager at Char Hope and graduated the Court Program in February 2018, almost a month to the day after I had achieved a full year of sobriety. After completing both programs, I went to work as a peer recovery specialist for the Harford County Health Department, focusing on court related treatment in both the district and circuit court programs. Since December 2019, I have been serving as the case manager for Harford County’s Adult Drug Court, in the circuit court through Harford County’s Office on Drug Control Policy. On January 11, 2022, I will be celebrating 5 years of recovery and complete abstinence from drugs and alcohol.

Kelly Loo Jones is a senior program associate at Children and Family Futures, working in the Family Drug Court Training and Technical Assistance (TTA) Program, providing coaching and TTA to state- and local-level court, child welfare, substance use disorder treatment, and justice systems. In this role she builds and strengthens systems capacity to implement trauma-informed, family-centered, and evidence-based models, practices, and policies to improve outcomes for children, youth, and families affected by substance use with multisystem involvement. Her expertise includes program development and implementation, performance measures and outcomes, building and strengthening multi-system collaborative practice, identifying and minimizing systemic barriers, and engaging teams in strategic and action planning to achieve program goals and objectives. Ms. Jones presents across the nation as a subject matter expert on FTCs with a focus on children and families who experience multisystem involvement (e.g., child welfare, juvenile justice, criminal justice). She is a skilled facilitator with a keen ability to enhance communication pathways within teams and across systems and build collaborative consensus to advance team mission and vision. She holds an MPA from California State University, San Bernardino and a BA in sociology from California State University, Fullerton. Her personal experience as a mother of an adult son in long-term recovery contributes to her passion and desire to apply holistic, family-centered approaches to improve outcomes and enhance service delivery for families affected by substance use disorder while disrupting intergenerational cycles of multi-system involvement.

Mr. Blakeley currently serves as a Program Associate for the Family Treatment Court Training and Technical Assistance Team for the Center for Children and Family Futures. He coordinates grant projects and program responsibilities and provides various training and technical assistance to Family Treatment Courts and teams around the United States.

Mr. Blakeley has nine years of experience in the child welfare system, including the role of court coordinator for Yellowstone Family Recovery Court, grant management in father engagement, child protection worker, and forensic interviewer. He has also taught at the high school and middle school levels.

Mr. Blakeley has experience training at the national, regional, statewide, and local levels. He is a certified trainer in How Being Trauma-Informed Improves Criminal Justice System Responses. He received a Master of Arts of Teaching from Christian Brothers University and a Bachelor of Arts in Human Rights Studies with minors in Political Science and Marianist Social Transformation from the University of Dayton.

Kristin is an Ethics Associate at the American Psychological Association, Peer Facilitator and Advocate for survivors of Intimate Partner Violence with the House of Ruth; as well as, an entrepreneur in the financial services industry. Along her journey she personally experienced IPV, at which point, her mission became to educate herself and the public on the signs of IPV. She utilizes her business as a tool to educate individuals about their options to expand their vision and environment from their current circumstances. She hopes her experiences inspire others and shines a light on their pathway to personal freedom.

Nikole S. Jones

Nikole S. Jones is a native Prince Georgian and graduate of Elizabeth Seton High School. She completed her undergraduate studies in psychology (minor in criminal justice) at James Madison University in 1993 and master’s degree in 2002 at the School of Social Work at Howard University in Washington, D.C. She completed her internship at the VA Hospital in the Washington, D.C. She really enjoyed working with veterans and wanted to commit her career to helping America’s warriors. Nikole’s experience in the VA includes work in the Substance Abuse Rehabilitation Program, and as the inpatient psych social worker. However, after the death of her family member in 2006 to suicide, Nikole became passionate about suicide prevention. Nikole interviewed and was selected as the VA suicide prevention coordinator in the VA Maryland Health Care System in Baltimore, Maryland. Nikole works directly with veterans who are at risk for suicide by providing counseling, education, and community support with the goal to reduce the incidence of suicide and increase access to care. Nikole also has had a private practice for the past 10 years, (Therapy 4 Life, LLC.) which provides counseling and consultation services for adults and children struggling with mental health and substance abuse issues. Nikole is working on her first self-help book, “The Compulsion to Die” that will be available in Spring 2022.

Christina Lanier

Christina Lanier is the co-director of the National Drug Court Resource Center (NDCRC) and a professor of sociology and criminology at the University of North Carolina Wilmington. She received her Ph.D. in sociology from the University of Delaware in 2006. She has extensive experience in grant writing and program evaluation. She conducts program evaluations for specialty courts in North Carolina and is a co-evaluator for a local re-entry program. Other recent projects include a statewide evaluation of the Swift and Sure Sanctions Probation Program (SSSPP) in Michigan, an evaluation of the North Carolina Treatment Alternatives for Safe Communities (TASC), and an evaluation of the mental health service delivery in Wayne County, MI jails. Her work has been published in Substance Use and Misuse, International Journal of Offender Therapy, Journal of Drug Issues, The Prison Journal, and The Journal of American College Health. Dr. Lanier’s focus is on linking the work of researchers with practitioners to make policy and social change.

Dennis Maes

Ret. Chief Judge Dennis Maes has served as an attorney, judge, and chief judge in the 10th Judicial District Court and school board member. Dennis graduated from St. Mary High School in 1963 from Walsenburg, Colorado. He attended Southern Colorado State College from 1963 through 1967 before attending the University of Colorado School of Law in 1969. Before attending law school, Dennis was a schoolteacher for Huerfano School District in Walsenburg. Once he received his JD, he began his career as staff attorney for Pueblo Country Legal Services. From 1976 through 1988, Dennis advanced through his career as deputy state public defender to his own private practice in Pueblo. On April 15, 1988, Dennis became district judge for Tenth Judicial District through May 2012. September 1, 1995, through May 2012 he served as chief district judge of the Tenth Judicial District. In the remaining years of his tenure, he worked establishing one of the top truancy reduction programs in the Nation. He turned his truancy court into a problem-solving court involving community agencies to service students and their families. Judge Dennis Maes retired on May 31, 2012. During his career he received numerous achievements and awards. In 2000, he was awarded the Outstanding Alumni Award for Distinguished Service from the University of Southern Colorado. In 2004, Dennis was Colorado CASA Judge of the Year. Following in 2008, the University of Colorado presented him with the Alumni Association Award for Distinguished Achievement. In 2011 and 2012, he was awarded three lifetime Achievement Awards from Colorado Hispanic Bar Association, Pueblo Country Bar Association, and Pueblo Latino Chamber of Commerce. Currently Dennis Maes is a member of the Southeast Regional Council for El Pomar Foundation, El Pomar Foundation board of Trustees, Mental Health of America Colorado Board of Directors and Pueblo Latino Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors.

Terri Martinez-McGraw

Terri Martinez-McGraw has served in a variety of roles related to children and families over the past 30 years, both in Colorado and nationally. Terri currently serves as co-director for the National Center for School Engagement and special education consultant for Pueblo City Schools. She also is the Exceptional Student Services coordinator for Chavez-Huerta Preparatory Academy. She has managed Title One, Family Engagement, Special Education, Adult Education and Experiential Education programs for students and families. She was the director of Student Support Services for Pueblo City Schools, in Pueblo Colorado. In that capacity she implemented an effective truancy reduction program that entailed collaboration with the greater Pueblo community and the 10th Judicial District Court, and created a family advocacy program called Project Respect, which was recognized as one of the top truancy reduction programs in the United States. She has extensive experience in designing effective dropout prevention programs for schools and communities, while working as an assistant principal in an alternative school. She has worked as a mental health therapist, specializing in trauma informed care along with being a foster parent for 14 years. She has authored and assisted in the writing of many successful grants to serve “at promise” students. Her education includes a Bachelor’s in Social Work with a minor in Spanish, Master’s Degree in Special Education emphasis in Mild, Moderate, Severe needs and Master’s Degree in Educational Leadership with a Principal License. Terri is also a certified trainer in Love and Logic for Parents and Teachers.

Alisha Saulsbury

Alisha F. Saulsbury, LCSW-C received her master’s degree from the University of Maryland. In 1999, she was part of a forensic pilot research study that is known today as Maryland’s T.A.M.A.R. (trauma, addiction, mental health and recovery) Program. She was one of the program’s founders in creating the curriculum used today. There are now over a dozen forensic locations in Maryland administering TAMAR and it is used nationally/internationally. In addition, she practiced on the Mid-Shore of Maryland as an outpatient provider for 30 years where she served children, adolescents, and adults. She continues to serve as a national consultant/trainer the past 17 years through the National Association of State Mental Health Program Directors/SAMHSA’s National Center for Trauma-Informed Care. Her passion is teaching trauma-informed approaches and increasing awareness to judiciary, law enforcement officers, first-responders, and other clinicians. She practiced on the Mid-Shore of Maryland as an outpatient provider for 30 years where she worked with children, adolescents, and adults. In addition, she was one of the first graduates of the Interface Master ACEs (Adverse Childhood Experiences) Presenters for the state of Maryland in October 2018, where she volunteers doing ACE’s trainings for The Family Tree in Baltimore, Maryland. Currently, she is the Forensic Mental Health Program Manager for Mid-Shore Behavioral Health, the local behavioral health authority, and Core Service agency for the 5-county region. She conducts Forensic Mental Health Evaluations for the criminal justice system and has a case manager who provides supportive services to those in need.

Terrence D. Walton

Terrence D. Walton, chief operating officer (COO) for NADCP, is among the nation's leading experts in providing training and technical assistance to treatment courts and other providers of substance use disorder treatment. Prior to being named COO in 2015, he was NADCP's chief of standards. Before coming to NADCP, Mr. Walton was director of treatment for the Pretrial Services Agency for the District of Columbia. Additionally, he previously excelled as the director of what was then the District of Columbia's leading adolescent outpatient substance use treatment center. Mr. Walton is an internationally certified alcohol and other drug abuse counselor with over 25 years of experience helping individuals and organizations champion positive change. He holds a B.A. degree in psychology and a Master’s Degree in Social Work with Specializations in Program Administration and Substance Abuse. He is a member of the Motivational Interviewing Network of Trainers (MINT). A gifted and entertaining speaker, Mr. Walton travels extensively, informing, and inspiring audiences across the globe.

Sarah Davis

I grew up in Mobile, Alabama in an extremely loving home. I was good in school and played sports throughout my childhood into high school. I was always trying to find who I was and never felt like I fit in anywhere but could always make friends. It was the way I felt inside, and I felt very alone. My grandmother was diagnosed with cancer in January of 2002 and died a month later. My stepmother’s mom was diagnosed with cancer as well and died 6 months later. I felt like my world had stopped and did not know how to process those feelings, nor did I want to. My mom began reading things that I was writing in my journal and took me to a psychologist, who referred us to a psychiatrist. I began experimenting with alcohol, marijuana, cocaine, ecstasy, acid, and opiates. I quickly found that these drugs made me feel a feeling that I had searched for my whole life. I felt okay with who I was, and I didn't care what anyone thought of me. I began stealing, lying, manipulating. I was arrested for the first time and went to rehab at the age of 17. I had a seizure from withdrawal. My life completely took a turn for the worst. I had no regard for anything that was happening around me. The damage I caused, to me, seemed to be negligible as long as I could continue to use the way I wanted. I moved to Maryland at the age of 18 and attempted to get my life together and use drugs successfully. I managed to get my GED and start a business. However, I quickly began stealing money from my own business and was forced to sell my ownership or face criminal charges. From the age of 24-31, I was arrested multiple times, evicted from home and had cars repossessed. The only thing that mattered to me was drugs. After receiving my 2nd felony charge in Maryland, I attempted to move back to Alabama but just found different substances to use there. I was so ashamed of myself and felt horrible remorse for the way I was but was completely powerless to stop using drugs. One day I asked my Mom to send me back to Maryland so I could reconnect with a recovery network I had built there years prior. I also knew I had to face those felony charges in Carroll County, Maryland. I moved into a sober home there and was given the opportunity to participate in Carroll County drug court. I knew that I had no choice but to do what the people around me said to do. I did not have a car and walked 1 mile each way to my appointments. I walked to work. I knew that if I did not want to use drugs anymore that I had to take actions that were completely opposite of who I used to be. I completed drug court successfully, moved out of the recovery house successfully and have nearly 3 years clean today. I help manage Rising Above Addiction, a non-profit organization that has 2 sober homes in Carroll County. I also work in the treatment field and try to listen to other suffering addicts and lead by example.

Lisa Coles is the supervisory social worker for the Health Care for Homeless Veterans Program at the Baltimore Veterans Administration (VA) Medical Center. Mrs. Coles began her tenure at the VA in 2006 as an outreach worker, advocating for street homeless veterans and connecting them to VA healthcare. Currently, she serves as the subject matter expert in homeless services and resources for the VAMHCS and supervises all homeless programming including the Veterans Justice Programs. Mrs. Coles began her civilian federal service working with active-duty military at Walter Reed Army Medical Center as a psychiatric social worker in 2004. She has since dedicated her professional career to serving the most vulnerable veterans in the Veterans Health Administration. Mrs. Coles is passionate about identifying and dismantling barriers to veterans achieving stable, permanent housing and access to care for issues contributing to their homelessness. Mrs. Coles has recently been recognized for assisting with getting veterans in VA shelters vaccinated for COVID 19 and volunteering to assist with COVID vaccination initiatives of elderly and immunocompromised veterans during the CDC second phase of the vaccination rollout. Mrs. Coles is a graduate of the University of Maryland School of Social Work and University of Maryland Baltimore County (UMBC). She enjoys watching romantic comedies and running 5k’s with her husband Eric. Pre-pandemic, Mrs. Coles was an avid contributor and participant in Habitat for Humanity builds in South and Central America and the Caribbean. Fun fact: she has 15 veteran family members including both of her parents as well as her brother.

Rhonda Hudson-Fowler

Coming soon

Kimberly M. Davis is an Associate Judge on the District Court of Maryland for Baltimore County, District 8. She was appointed on December 28, 2012. Judge Davis served as law clerk for the Honorable Roger W. Brown, Sr., Associate Judge for the Circuit Court for Baltimore City, from 2000 to 2001. She was an Assistant Public Defender in Baltimore City from 2001 to 2004. Judge Davis was a solo practitioner from 2004 to 2012. She founded the Law Offices of Kimberly M. Thomas, LLC, where she litigated criminal, civil and domestic matters. Judge Davis presides over criminal, civil, and domestic violence matters. She is the managing judge for the District Court of Maryland for Baltimore County’s Problem-Solving Court Program, which is comprised of the Adult Recovery Court and the Mental Health Court. Judge Davis also presides of the Mental Health/Competency Docket. Judge Davis currently serves as the Chair of the Judicial Council’s Specialty Courts and Dockets Committee and served as a member of the Problem-Solving Courts Subcommittee from 2020 to 2021. She was a member of the Maryland Judiciary Committee on Equal Justice, Community Outreach Subcommittee from 2020 to 2022. She was a member of the Domestic Violence and Peace Order Subcommittee from 2015 to 2019 and served as the Vice-Chair of the Domestic Violence and Peace Order Subcommittee from 2016 to 2019.

Melanie M. Shaw Geter

Judge Melanie M. Shaw Geter is an Associate Judge of Maryland’s second highest court, the Court of Special Appeals. Elevated in June of 2016 by Governor Larry Hogan, this year marks Judge Shaw Geter’s 25th year serving in the judiciary. She was initially appointed to the District Court for Prince George’s County and later elevated to the Circuit Court. While in the Circuit Court, she handled both jury and non-jury civil, family, and criminal trials and served as the County’s Juvenile Judge and as the County’s Criminal Coordinating Judge. During her tenure, Judge Shaw Geter has worked on many court related projects designed to improve the administration of justice and to educate the community about the judiciary. She implemented the County’s first Juvenile Drug Court and Re-Entry Court programs and piloted the Court’s Treatment for Mothers of Addicted Newborns (TMAN) docket. She co-chaired a taskforce examining the Circuit Court’s Accessibility to the Latino Community, has served on the Maryland Judiciary’s Public Awareness Committee, the Public Trust and Confidence Committee, Education Committee, the Judiciary’s Mediation and Conflict Resolution Board as well as Maryland’s Juvenile Justice Advisory Council. She currently serves on the Judiciary’s Alternative Dispute Resolution Committee and the Problem-Solving Court’s Subcommittee. Prior to her appointment, the Judge was a career prosecutor, having ended her career as Chief of the Homicide and Narcotics Division of the State’s Attorney’s Office in Prince George’s County. Judge Geter received her Bachelor of Arts Degree from Howard University and her Juris Doctorate Degree from the University of Maryland Francis King Carey School of Law.

Gray Barton is the Director for the Office of Problem-Solving Courts in Annapolis, Maryland. In this position Mr. Barton oversees the planning and administration of various types of drug and DUI courts, mental health courts, veterans courts, truancy courts, and other problem-solving court programs for the Maryland Judiciary. Mr. Barton began counseling emotionally disturbed adolescent males at New Dominion Wilderness Program in Cumberland, MD. He later took an Addictions Specialist position with the State of Maryland, diagnosing and treating adolescent males with chemical dependency issues. He held the Treatment Supervisor position at The Abraxas Foundation of Ohio before becoming the Treatment Court Coordinator for the Mansfield Municipal Court and assisted the court in developing one of the first municipal drug courts in the State of Ohio. Then as the Treatment Coordinator of the Richland County Drug Court, Mr. Barton was involved in the implementation and continuation of regional municipal and common pleas drug courts in several counties, assisting in the planning and implementation of drug court programs in these jurisdictions.

Reflections from a Problem-Solving Court Dropout

Maryland Problem-Solving Courts have greatly grown since the initial inception. Since its inception, Maryland has fostered the growth of 60 Problem-Solving Courts to include: Adult Drug Courts, Juvenile Drug Courts, Mental Health Courts, Re-Entry Courts, Truancy Courts, Veterans Treatment Courts, Family Recovery Courts, and the Back on Track Program. This session will discuss how life has turned a corner from the perspective of a participant who was unable to complete program requirements.

When Sanctions (and Incentives) Don’t Work: Responding Effectively to Addiction-Driven Noncompliance

Incentives and sanctions, also known as contingency management, are essential to treatment court success. When properly used, they are a powerful tool for improving client behavior and program outcomes. Treatment courts achieve better outcomes when practitioners understand the science behind behavior management and apply the principles. The research is clear: impacting reliably participant behavior requires both consistent reinforcement of positive behaviors and reliable responses to undesirable behaviors. Nonetheless, despite our best intentions (and perhaps the best intentions of the participants,) sometimes it doesn’t work. For some participants, our responses to behavior seem to have no impact. This session will describe the essential elements of effective behavior modification in a drug court and reveal what actions a program should consider when their efforts appear futile

Cannabis Conundrum

With nearly half of the US population residing in a state where cannabis is fully legal, it is important to better understand the impact that this drug has on the consumers (medicinal and recreational), the community, and traffic safety. This session will cover current cannabis legalization status, how cannabis effects the human body, and why cannabis impairment is a real concern for roadway safety. Other topics that will be briefly touched upon will include which cannabinoids impair, rising THC percentages, ingestion methods and why they matter, new technology for detection of recent use, and current perception of risk with ingestion.

Family Treatment Courts: What Are They and How Can They Improve Outcomes for Families Affected by Substance Use?

Family Treatment Courts (FTCs) are one of the most promising models for improving treatment retention and family reunification rates in the child welfare system. The therapeutic model of FTCs relies on cross-system collaboration and family-centered, trauma-informed approaches to engage, support, and serve children, parents, and families affected by substance use. Implementing FTCs provides juvenile and family court professionals with a unique opportunity to disrupt intergenerational cycles of multi-system involvement including the foster care-to-prison pipeline while improving outcomes and healing families affected by substance use.Attention Deficit Disorder in Court Involved Young Adults and Juveniles

The Dynamics of Intimate Partner Violence

This presentation will discuss identifying what abuse is, why leaving is not always easy, and how to support victims of IPV/DV.

Brain Injury, Behavioral Health and Problematic Substance Use; Implications for Maryland’s Problem-Solving Courts

This session will provide an overview of the physical, cognitive, and behavioral health consequences for those living with a history of often hidden, often multiple insults to their brain because of traumatic and acquired brain injuries. Brain Injury is a common and often unrecognized co-occurring behavioral health disorder. According to the National Association of State Head Injury Administrator’s Leading Practices Academy on Criminal and Juvenile Justice and Brain Injury, the “prevalence of brain injury within the criminal and juvenile justice system is staggering: Youth: 44% and Adults: 41-82%.” Attendees will be provided evidence-based strategies and interventions to support individuals who are both currently involved with the courts who are living with a brain injury or at risk of becoming justice involved.

Promoting the use of recovery-oriented language: Why words matter

The question of why/how language is important to the work that is done in treatment courts and the larger criminal legal system is an emerging area of interest to both practitioners and researchers alike. Sociologists, linguists, and others have examined the role of language within our society and the influence it has on thoughts, attitudes, and behaviors. This presentation will begin with an overview of this work and answer the question of “what is language?” Second, the goals of both the criminal legal system and treatment courts will be outlined. Next, an overview of how language can serve as a vehicle by which we do/do not achieve these goals will be provided. Finally, a historical account of how language has changed over time will be reviewed. Specific attention will be paid to terminology practitioners and researchers should avoid using, as well as alternative words/phrases that promote recovery, healing, and wellness.

Disrupting Stigma and Building Recovery Capital to Improve Outcomes for Families

Stigma about substance use disorders affects the attitudes of court, treatment, and social service professionals, families, community members, and the individuals themselves—creating barriers for people seeking to engage in services. Disrupting stigma and building recovery capital increases meaningful engagement through relationship building and cross-systems collaboration while promoting protective factors, resiliency, and overall family well-being thereby improving outcomes for families affected by substance use disorders.

Attention Deficit Disorder in Court Involved Young Adults and Juveniles

Presentation will discuss:

• Brief Introduction to Juvenile Pretrial Services (JPS)
• Intersection of ADHD and juvenile court
• Strategies for intervention and treatment
• The use of case examples, videos, and interactive polls will utilized to facilitate learning

Veteran Suicide Risk Throughout the Life Span

At the conclusion of the presentation, you will have increase awareness of prevalence of suicide and suicidal behavior in the veteran population and the suicide prevention initiatives at the VA.

• Objective 1: Identify Risk Factors and Warning Signs of Suicide
• Objective 2: Identify Risks of Suicide Specific to Veterans
• Objective 3: Understand the Prevalence and Scope of Suicide among the Veteran Population
• Objective 4: Identify Crisis Intervention Resources in the VA and the Community for Suicidal Veterans
• Objective 5: Identify Stigma Associated with Suicide and how it Negatively Impacts Prevention

Human Trafficking and Sex Work

History of readjustment counseling services; services provided at the vet centers.

Vet Centers are community-based counseling centers that provide a wide range of social and psychological services, including professional readjustment counseling to eligible veterans, active-duty service members, including National Guard and Reserve components, and their families. Readjustment counseling is offered to make a successful transition from military to civilian life or after a traumatic event experienced in the military.

Individual, group, marriage, and family counseling are offered in addition to referral and connection to other VA or community benefits and services. Vet Center counselors and outreach staff, many of whom are veterans themselves, are experienced and prepared to discuss the tragedies of war, loss, grief, and transition after trauma.

No Time to Lose: Engaging and Serving Families Affected by Substance Use Disorder

Research and practice experience indicate that 60-80% of substantiated child welfare cases have substance use and co-occurring disorders as the underlying cause of the abuse or neglect. Numerous studies point to the critical importance of early engagement in quality treatment and other services to improve child welfare and recovery outcomes for families affected by a parental substance use disorder (SUD). Practices focused on early identification, screening, assessment, and early engagement provides the greatest opportunity to fully meet the comprehensive needs of children, parents, and families affected by SUDs that come to the attention of the child welfare system.

This population of families experience conflicting timeclocks related to the Adoption and Safe Families Act (AFSA) timeline to reunification, treatment, recovery, and child development. Attendees will learn best practices and concrete strategies to engage and serve families affected by SUD including preventing child removal by serving families in-home. This session will highlight the work of the Baltimore Family Recovery Program, a recently named Peer Learning Court in the Family Drug Court Training and Technical Assistance Program, who will share innovative strategies they implemented to improve engagement and service delivery for families affected by SUD.

Trauma, Trauma Awareness, Trauma Informed Care, and/or TAMAR

In this breakout session, we will talk about how trauma "shows up" in the criminal justice system. Learn how Maryland studied gender-specific recidivism rates and how these studies led to program development, implementation and training of correctional officers and partners in the judicial system. We will review the history of the TAMAR (Trauma, Addictions, Mental Health and Recovery) Program and how incarcerated individuals can become program participants while detained. By using the RICH model (Respect, Information, Connection and Hope), we recognize recovery is indeed possible.

Strengthening Families Affected by Substance Use to Disrupt Intergenerational Cycles of Multi-System Involvement

Children, youth, and families who experience systems involvement due to substance use and mental health disorders do not exist in isolation. Healing this population requires a cross-system collaborative, family-centered, and trauma-informed approach that focuses on family voice, well-being, safety, permanency, and recovery to disrupt intergenerational cycles of multisystem involvement. Children, youth, and families involved in child welfare and/or juvenile justice systems deserve to receive the necessary services that will strengthen their families by mitigating risk and building on protective factors so that when they leave the system they do not return.

A Blueprint for Phases

Truancy: is this a community or school problem creating a toolbox for all.

Come and learn the history of truancy and review how traditional punitive approaches to truancy are not the answer. We will learn how to transform the traditional truancy court into a problem-solving court, where students and their families are supported to become positive members of the community. The root causes of truancy in a child’s life can be tragic. This session will discuss engaging the family and community partners in collaborative manner by celebrating student strengths to overcome many of life’s obstacles.

Transforming your Truancy Court into a Problem-Solving Court: Who do I need in my circle?

What is the structure of the problem-solving court? There are several branches of a successful Problem-solving court. Find out who needs to be at the table in addressing truancy, judicial/school/relationships, and support systems. This is an interactive session where the actual truancy reduction project will be viewed and opportunities to answer questions specific to your community.

The Evolving Role of Supervision in Treatment Courts

As supervisors begin to re-evaluate their work, there is a significant shift in the role they can play on treatment court teams. Agencies have historically been asked to play a referee-type role–monitoring the rules and conditions and blowing the whistle when observing the justice-involved individual stepping outside the lines. But there has been a recent call to transform supervision from referees to coaches. The coaches’ role is to help their players win. To do so is to be able to assess talent quickly, design plans to help build strengths while minimizing the risks, reinforce, cheer, and hold accountable. This presentation will provide the framework for rethinking supervision at the table as one of coach versus referee.

Data and Truancy? Where do I go from here? Evaluating your Truancy Reduction Program

Participants will learn about the importance of data collection of a successful truancy reduction program. With data, this ensures sustainability of the truancy reduction program. Learn about funding opportunities and most importantly the necessity of community collaboration to enrich your court room and schools. Learn strategies to overcome the judicial barriers in addressing truancy. The participants will have time to ask any clarifying questions specific to your schools/courts.

Judge Mary Jane Knisely

Judge Mary Jane Knisely, a native Montanan, graduated from Texas Christian University with a B.S. in psychology. Receiving her J.D. from the University of Montana School of Law, she clerked for the district court before becoming a Billings deputy city prosecutor. In 1997, Judge Knisely was elected as Billings municipal court judge, and in 2010 she was elected to the General Jurisdiction District Court bench, becoming the presiding chief judge in 2014. Judge Knisely pioneered drug, DUI, veterans, and mental health courts in Montana. She currently presides over STEER (Sobriety, Treatment, Education, Excellence, and Rehabilitation), a felony impaired driving court, and CAMO (Courts Assisting Military Offenders), a veterans treatment court. In May 2017, STEER and CAMO were selected as NADCP Academy/Mentor Courts. Judge Knisely is the Region 10 judicial outreach liaison, in partnership with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and the American Bar Association Judicial Division. She serves on the faculty of the National Judicial College, NADCP, NCDC, NDCI, and Justice for Vets. Appointed to the Montana Governor’s Juvenile Justice Advisory Council, Judge Knisely has a mission to reduce the number of juveniles detained, diverting them to community-based programs. She recently received the State Bar of Montana’s Karla M. Gray Equal Justice Award.

Gregory G. Pinski is a retired Montana district judge. He earned his B.A. in political science and journalism from the University of North Dakota and his J.D., with distinction, from the University of North Dakota School of Law. He also attended the National Judicial College at the University of Nevada–Reno. Before taking the bench, Judge Pinski taught at the University of Minnesota Law School and practiced law in Minnesota and Montana. As a district judge, he sat by designation on the Montana Supreme Court and served on the Montana Drug Treatment Court Advisory Committee. Judge Pinski founded a veterans treatment court and presided over a drug treatment court for eight years. During that time, he secured over $5 million in public and private grants to expand his treatment courts. He worked closely with the Harvard Law School Access to Justice Lab to design a comparative study on treatment court processes. As a member of the National Judicial Opioid Task Force, Judge Pinski authored federal, state, and tribal jurisdictional transfer agreements to expand access to treatment courts. He also drafted the Model Veterans Treatment Court Act for the Uniform Law Commission. In the private sector, Judge Pinski is the president of Treatment Court Consulting Group, LLC, providing treatment court evaluation services, and he founded a nonprofit veterans law clinic. He is a consultant to the NADCP, NDCI, Justice For Vets, and the Tribal Law and Policy Institute, providing research, training, and technical assistance services to treatment courts across the United States.

Brian L. Meyer, Ph.D., LCP

Brian L. Meyer, Ph.D., LCP, is a clinical psychologist and the psychology program manager for community-based outpatient clinics at the Central Virginia VA Health Care System. He is also an assistant professor in the Department of Psychiatry at Virginia Commonwealth University. He earned his A.B. from Harvard University in 1980 and his Ph.D. in clinical psychology with a specialization in adolescents and families from Duke University in 1990. Dr. Meyer has worked in the child welfare and child and adult mental health fields as a clinician, administrator, teacher, policy maker, program developer, expert witness, researcher, consultant, and trainer. He has been the deputy clinical director of the New Mexico Children, Youth, and Families Department Protective Services Division; the executive director of the Albuquerque Child and Family Guidance Center; the executive director of the Virginia Treatment Center for Children; and the interim associate chief of mental health clinical services and PTSD-SUD specialist at the McGuire VA Medical Center. In his current roles, Dr. Meyer oversees psychologists at five regional VA community clinics; provides evidence-based treatments for veterans who have problems with PTSD, substance use, depression, traumatic brain injury, and other co-occurring conditions; and develops and conducts research on treatments for PTSD, substance use, and co-morbid conditions. Dr. Meyer has given more than 300 presentations and trainings on a wide range of topics and is the co-author of Transcending Self Therapy: Group Integrative Cognitive Behavioral Treatment Book for Facilitators (2019), a treatment manual for people with substance use disorders.

Carolyn Hardin is the chief of training and research for NADCP, a nongovernmental organization based in Washington, D.C. She oversees the daily operations for NADCP’s three divisions: National Drug Court Institute, National Center for DWI Courts, and Justice for Vets. She also oversees the development and implementation of training for the organization. Ms. Hardin currently travels nationally and internationally, assisting teams with planning and operating successful drug courts. She received her master’s degree in public administration from the University of Akron in Ohio and her B.A. degree in public administration from Talladega College in Talladega, Alabama. Her work experience includes resource development and acquisition, program planning and evaluation, and MIS database management. Ms. Hardin has supervised probationers, parolees, and federal inmates and has supervised special caseloads, including sex offenders, dual-diagnosis offenders, and violent offenders.

Dr. Kevin Baldwin

Dr. Kevin Baldwin is a clinical psychologist with a dual emphasis on research and forensics. He serves as a senior researcher for Applied Research Services in Atlanta, Georgia, providing criminal justice research and policy analysis nationally. He has directed federally funded research projects, authored over a dozen articles in peer-reviewed journals, and designed and evaluated substance use treatment programs. Dr. Baldwin authored a publication entitled “Sex Offender Risk Assessment” for the U.S. DOJ’s Office of Sex Offender Sentencing, Monitoring, Apprehending, Registering, and Tracking. He is director of forensic services at the Highland Institute, an Atlanta outpatient clinic specializing in the assessment and treatment of persons with sexual behavior problems. He performs forensic examinations, serves as an expert witness in state and federal courts, and has worked in both inpatient and community-based mental health settings. Dr. Baldwin is a frequent presenter at regional and national conferences and has provided training to treatment court staff. He also serves as faculty at the National Judicial College and NDCI. Dr. Baldwin earned his Ph.D. at Georgia State University after completing an adult forensic internship at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill School of Medicine and the Federal Bureau of Prisons.

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Maryland’s Family Recovery Courts: Successfully Reuniting Families with the Help of Customized Substance Use Disorder Treatment

To reduce substance use as a key cause of children removed from their homes, Maryland implemented a Family Recovery Court program in 2004 that connects parents to intensive treatment for substance use disorder (SUD) and provides case management and incentives. Over a one-year period, program evaluations show the program produced a 25 percent higher reunification rate, reduced days that children spend in non-kinship foster care (252 vs. 346), and produced more than $1 million in savings for the state’s child protective system due to reduced foster care utilization.

Substance use is a major contributing factor in child removals. The rate of removals associated with substance use rose nearly 20 percent between 2000 and 2016 and peaked at 36 percent in 2018 before falling slightly to 34 percent in 2019. To address substance use as a driver of children entering foster care, Maryland uses a Family Recovery Court (FRC) model that connects parents to intensive services, case management, and incentives – all emphasizing SUD treatment as an opportunity to support family reunification.

FRC is a civil court proceeding that works closely with the state’s child welfare/child protection system. Individuals are referred to the FRC when they interact with the judicial system because their abilities to parent have been impaired as a result of SUD. Parents participating in FRCs have an underlying child welfare case in civil family court, where they often face the threat of losing custody following allegations of neglect. Maryland’s FRCs recognize the chronic nature of SUD and that without support and treatment, parents with SUD may continue to struggle. Maryland’s successful model is centered around services and engagement that incentivize the safety, health, and stability of families. 

Outcomes of Maryland’s Family Recovery Court Model:

•  Improved family reunification rates;
• Fewer days in non-kinship care;
• Increased treatment completion rates; and
• Net savings for Maryland child welfare system

Establishing Family Recovery Courts

  Maryland’s Code and Court Rules established a formal process for creating “problem-solving courts” that include FRCs. An administrative order from the Chief Judge of the Court of Appeals details the court’s process. 

• A county circuit court or district court judge is required to lead its development, which includes consulting with and receiving commitments from other government agencies that are willing to participate as partners in the problem-solving court. 
• Planning must establish community need indicated by SUD rates, child abuse/neglect cases related to parental SUD, rates of SUD treatment retention. The leaders outline program goals, protocols, and an estimated budget. 

“The range of services available are so rich and so focused on getting at the source of the medical issue that is driving their use disorder. Not to simply achieve a period of negative urine analysis screenings, but to get to the core causes that will bring them to that “I’m done” day.” – Maryland state official

Maryland established its first FRC in Harford County in 2004, followed by Baltimore City in 2005. Today, the state operates five such courts across the state. To standardize best practices and requirements across jurisdictions, the Maryland Office of Problem Solving Courts released  Guidelines for Planning and Implementing Family/Dependency Drug Treatment Court Programs  in 2017. These guidelines spell out the process of establishing a FRC, including programming details, target populations, the role of the judiciary, policy issues, and funding strategies. 

Eligibility: Parents who participate in Maryland’s FRC programs do so voluntarily, understanding that family reunification is the goal of the program. Eligible participants include: 

• Parents of infants with positive screens for substances;
• Parents with reported neglect; 
• Parents who maintain custody, but neglect is indicated through a petition; and 
• Parents who maintain custody following a court’s disposition. 

Parents may be referred into the program by child protective services, public defenders, magistrates, and social workers. 

Services: Parents participating in a Maryland FRC are provided with an immediate assessment followed by comprehensive SUD treatment services and intensive supports to stabilize the family unit. “ The range of services available are so rich and so focused on getting at the source of the medical issue that is driving their use disorder,” noted one Maryland state official. “[The goal is] not to simply achieve a period of negative urine analysis screenings, but to get to the core causes that will bring them to that “I’m done” day.”  All parents undergo extensive intake by internal court case managers who develop personalized treatment plans. Plans are closely monitored by the court, which convenes weekly to review open cases and participant progress. 

Through the FRC, parents can access:

• Psycho-social supports, including counseling, as well as medication for opioid use disorder (MOUD) when clinically indicated;
• Peer support; 
• Assistance in applying for Medicaid; 
• Linkages to housing and transportation;  
• Life skills training; and 
• Continued access to the staff and resources of the FRC to gain continued parenting and SUD support. 

FRCs take an incentives-based approach that embraces the reality that SUD is a chronic relapsing disorder – it does not terminate parents from the program solely on the grounds of their return to substance use.  

Funding/State Support:  Maryland utilizes several funding sources to operate its FRCs. State grant funds from the Office of Problem-Solving Courts, within Maryland’s Administrative Office of the Court, are the primary source of financial support. These grants cover administrative, staffing, training, and drug testing costs, and some ancillary services. In recent years, the state legislature has reduced the judiciary’s budget, but  exempted  problem-solving courts from any reductions.  In 2017, the state’s Heroin and Opioid Prevention Effort (HOPE) and Treatment Act included an ongoing, mandated an  appropriation  to fund drug courts, including FRCs. FRCs and the Office of Problem-Solving Courts also partner with the Department of Behavioral Health, Department of Social Services, and other agencies to fund and navigate services such as transportation and housing supports. Finally, health care services, such as in- and outpatient treatment, psycho-social therapy, and MOUD are  covered  by Maryland Medicaid   for eligible participants.  

Outcomes: While the core goal of this court model is to achieve residential permanency for children, Maryland’s FRCs seek to achieve the often more difficult goal of family reunification by emphasizing holistic rehabilitation. In addition to treatment adherence, parental skill development and engaged participation are critical to the program’s success, and meeting the requirements for graduation from the program can be challenging. As part of annual reporting, the Administrative Office of the Courts routinely reviews all problem-solving courts, including FRCs. The 2020 Annual Report to the legislature indicated that, after adjusting for participants who left for administrative reasons, an average of 19 percent of participants graduated across FRCs in the state; Baltimore County had the highest graduation rate at 34.5 percent. 

An external evaluation covering one year in 2008 also showed:

• A reunification rate of 70 percent for families participating in FRCs, as opposed to a 45 percent reunification rate among families who did not participate;
• Fewer days spent in non-kinship foster care placement (252 days vs. 346 days) 
• A net savings of over $1 million for the state’s child protection system due to decreased utilization of the foster care; and
• A treatment completion rate by participating parents of 64 percent, compared to 36 percent of non-FRP parents.

Further, one FRC in a small jurisdiction was closed as the result of positive outcomes that led to a lack of subsequent need in the community.

Key Takeaways

To establish an FRC in a state, Maryland officials recommend policymakers:

• Seek judicial leadership. Maryland’s Problem-Solving Courts are championed, developed, and supported by leadership within the judiciary, included judges across the state and from various levels of the state’s court system. Critical administrative funding, guidance, and enabling regulation flows from and is overseen by the judicial system, contributing to the program’s overall sustainability and success. 
• Frontload a diverse and intensive array of services, and then maintain connections. State officials credit the program’s wraparound approach as an integral part of its success. Maryland’s FRCs provide case management services, short- and long-term family housing and transportation assistance, and employment preparation and life skills development. State leaders view the FRC as a lifelong program. FRCs employ parent locators who seek out FRC alumni and either re-engage them in treatment or encourage their participation in the program as peer support specialists. Parents may continue to receive services in the community after program completion.  
• Encourage cross-agency collaboration . Maryland’s FRCs and adult drug courts are administered by the Office of Problem-Solving Courts and share an oversight committee, which provides an opportunity for collaboration across criminal and civil dockets. This approach also requires coordination among systems and agencies – the courts work with social services, health and behavioral health/SUD providers, and housing and transportation services to align resources and policies to ensure that the necessary supports are in place to help parents and families remain unified, healthy, and safe. 

The National Academy for State Health Policy is providing this fact sheet with the ongoing support of the Foundation for Opioid Response Efforts (FORE) and wishes to thank Project Officer Ken Shatzkes and FORE President Karen Scott for their continued guidance and direction. The authors would also like to thank Richard Abbott, Director, Juvenile and Family Services, Gray Barton, Director, Problem Solving Courts, Lou Gieszl, Assistant State Court Administrator for Programs, and the Hon. Robert Kershaw, Associate Judge, Baltimore Circuit Court, for contributing their expertise and state experiences to this report.

• Policy Areas:
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Teen court, an innovative way to address juvenile justice issues.

By Alana Glover,  CFCC Student Fellow (2018-2019)

As a Student Fellow in  the University of Baltimore School of Law’s Sayra and Neil Meyerhoff Center for Families, Children and the Courts’ (CFCC) Student Fellows Program, we think critically about how families are affected by the legal system. We think in depth about therapeutic jurisprudence and the role that it plays in problem-solving courts, as well as the effects that problem-solving courts have on the community. There are many different problem-solving courts, including teen courts, veteran’s courts, mental health courts, domestic violence courts, and drug  treatment courts. On October 4th,  I observed Teen Court, which is a problem-solving court specifically geared towards juvenile offenders.

The Maryland Youth & the Law (MYLAW) initiative operates the Baltimore City Teen Court.  MYLAW was established in 1975 to teach Maryland youth about the law and legal system, and to provide youth in the community greater access to justice. The Teen Court program is unique because it allows teenagers to be judged by a group of their peers and offers them an opportunity to participate in the justice system as defendants and prosecutors. Youth in the community serve as the jury and fact finders in cases where  juveniles are being tried for misdemeanor offenses.

The Baltimore City Teen Court receives most of its cases from the Baltimore City Police Department and Baltimore City School Police. Participation in Teen Court is completely voluntary.  By agreeing to participate, a youth’s case is diverted from the Department of Juvenile Services (DJS).  While participating in Teen Court, a case is  placed “on hold,” pending completion of any teen court requirements.  It is important to note that in order for a youth to participate in Teen Court, he/she must admit to his/her involvement and accept responsibility for the offense which led to the arrest or referral. Additionally, after the youth attends the hearing, he/she must complete all of the sanctions imposed by the Teen Court jury and judge. If the youth complies with all of his/her obligations, the case will be considered closed by DJS.  Teen Court offers juveniles the opportunity to participate in a court that is focused on therapeutic jurisprudence rather than simple punishment that can lead to the youth becoming engulfed by the criminal justice system at an early age.

According to an article by Professors Barbara A. Babb and David B. Wexler, “ Therapeutic jurisprudence is the study of the role of law as a therapeutic agent by serving as a lens that focuses on the law ‘s impact on an individual’s emotional and psychological well-being .” Barbara A. Babb & David B. Wexler, Encyclopedia of Criminology and Criminal Behavior (Gerben Bruinsma & David Weisburd, 2014). The article explains how the law can act as a healing or therapeutic agent, which is what I witnessed during my observation of  a Teen Court. In the case I observed a youth who had been charged with a minor offense presented his argument to a jury of his peers. What I found most  interesting about the process was the teenage jury deliberations on the matter. Similar to a traditional court, the Teen Court has a minimum number of community service hours that can be imposed as a sentence, depending on the offense committed. However, in the case I observed, the jury decided not to add additional community service hours after considering factors such as the youth being a junior in high school who already had to complete service hours  for graduation and the youth’s lack of support at home. The teen jury also decided that what would be most helpful to the youthful offender would be to provide him with a mentor. The teens in the jury considered factors that a judge, who might be three times older than the offender, may not have considered.

The opportunity to observe a system that works in a meaningful way to provide justice while stopping the school-to-prison pipeline was an amazing experience. The only issue I could see with Teen Court would be the lack of funding.  With greater funding, the court could increase its capacity. Teen Court is an exemplary problem-solving court that changes juveniles’ lives in a positive way in comparison to the traditional court system, that simply focuses on punishment.

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4 thoughts on “ teen court, an innovative way to address juvenile justice issues ”.

Thank you for sharing this, Alana! During the jury deliberations that you observed, what types of questions were asked?

Thanks for the question Meegan! During the deliberations the teens asked very interesting questions. They asked about the seriousness of the crime and what would be the best punishment.

For example, they also asked about the youth’s career goals. The youth at trial wanted to pursue a more traditional career rather than focusing on pursuing a career that requires higher education. The law students who typically volunteer with the youth on a weekly basis explained that simply because a student does not want to pursue a career that requires a degree from a higher education institution, does not mean they will not be successful.

The youth also discussed the community service allotment. After talking among themselves, they decided it was over-excessive to add additional community service hours. Knowing that the youth already had additional hours that they had to complete in order to graduate from high school in Baltimore City.

I hope that this answers your question!

Wow – the teen jury really engaged in an insightful analysis of the Defendant’s circumstances. I’m hopeful and anticipate these youths will continue to positively impact our community. Thanks for sharing this!

Great post Alana! I wonder if the Teen Court Program offers a Mentor list or pairing service for the youth in the program.I think when it comes to juvenile offenders, having a mentor can have a large impact for finding a new path or direction to take in life to get results they can be proud of. Thoughts?

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Nonpartisan Education-based News for Talbot County Community

Talbot Problem-Solving Court Help Transform Lives

February 11, 2013 by Amy Blades Steward

With drug and alcohol issues at the root of many crimes in Talbot County, two and half years ago Judge Bo Earnest of the Talbot County Circuit Court established a unique program called the “Problem-Solving Court.” While there are between 30 and 35 Drug Courts in the State of Maryland, this year-long program has a broader scope in helping address the substance abuse and mental health issues of residents of Talbot County. Most of the participants in the program have been charged with possession of drugs or have related drug charges in Circuit Court. The Problem-Solving Court helps to keep them from falling back into their bad behaviors. According to Judger Earnest, the program is working in transforming lives.

Dewayne Camper of Trappe, a 37-year old father who recently graduated from the Problem-Solving Court, found that he had turned to drugs to deal with his problems.  He comments, “There are rules to follow in life.  We are raised to know these rules, but sometimes our attitudes can get in the way. This program taught me to follow directions in order not to face more serious consequences in my life. I realized I wanted to turn my life around for myself and for my 10-year old daughter.  I needed to be together to be a better father to her.”

Camper credits the Problem-Solving Court with turning his life around.  He comments, “At first I didn’t want to do it. It required doing extra work to prove to them that I was serious.”  He adds, “I soon realized this was a help system and not a court.”

Judge Earnest comments, “The program is designed to help people in these circumstances – making it more of a therapeutic court.  It is very difficult to deal with these addictions. A majority of the people with substance abuse issues have mental health issues as well, so the program determines what each individual needs and includes psychological treatment.”

Participants of the Problem-Solving Court must sign a written contract to be in the program for a minimum of one year. The first step is getting people into a substance abuse treatment program through the Talbot County Addictions Program or Shore Behavioral Health.  This program, which can last from 30 days to one year, requires the participant to submit to random drug testing three times a week. The results are reviewed with the participant in the Problem-Solving Court every two weeks. In addition, they must meet every two weeks to review their progress with Judge Earnest and his team, which includes the State’s Attorney, Public Defender, Division of Parole and Probation, Talbot County Addictions Program, Shore Behavioral Health, Talbot County Detention Center, and Mid-Shore Mental Health Services. Participants must also attend a meeting of either Alcoholics Anonymous or Narcotics Anonymous twice a week, perform a minimum of 40 hours of community service with local charities, and write essays to express themselves and their journey. The program also addresses education and employment issues, working to link participants with employment services provided by the Workforce Investment Board and educational offerings.

For Dewayne Camper, Problem-Solving Court gave him the opportunity to attend Chesapeake College where he is studying Human Services.  He hopes to get into counseling one day himself.  He states, “I ignored the help offered to me throughout my life.  I didn’t feel people would understand my problems. Sometimes you just need to talk to someone to deal with your problems.  I have realized that through participating in the program and am totally taking advantage of the help now offered to me.”

Judge Earnest adds that in addition to the Problem-Solving Court, Talbot County is working to establish another groundbreaking court – Re-Entry Court, which assists people returning from jail and prison. While it has been approved by Talbot County, it is awaiting approval by the State of Maryland. He states, “Most of these people, who also have substance abuse and mental health issues are woefully unprepared to return to society from prison. When they come back from prison, the results are entirely predictable with the majority re-arrested and being sent back to prison.”

According to Judge Earnest, the purpose of the Re-Entry Court is to figure out who the good candidates are for rehabilitation – those who are not a public safety threat – and have them serve the last six months of their sentence in the Talbot County Detention Center to prepare them for their return to the community.

He adds, “We are not coddling criminals. Whether we like it or not, these people are coming back into our county.  Some of their problems can’t be treated effectively in prison and there is science-based evidence that we can lower the recidivism rates by doing this.”

The Re-Entry Court will re-acquaint the participants with their families and address their addictions, utilizing such programs as the Fatherhood Program with the Talbot County Detention Center, Mid-Shore Mediation Program, Mid-Shore Mental Health Services, Fresh Start Housing, Talbot County Addictions Program, Shore Behavioral Health, and the Division of Parole and Probation.  The participants will transition into Talbot County’s Problem-Solving Court to continue their transition back into the community.

For Dewayne Camper, Talbot County’s approach is working. He concludes, “The more you do right, the scope of life gets bigger. Other people are watching me now and it helps me stay grounded and to stay on track.  It is not easy when you complete the program, because the issues in our lives don’t go away. It means you still need to keep working to make progress.”

Pictured left to right are Judge Bo Earnest of the Talbot County Circuit Court with Dewayne Camper of Trappe, a 37-year old father who recently graduated from Talbot County’s Problem-Solving Court. Camper credits the Problem-Solving Court with turning his life around.

For further information on Talbot County’s Problem-Solving Court, contact the Program at  410-770-6823 .

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