Each March, the US recognizes Women’s History Month. Research shows that historically, women experience treatment courts differently from men. To further this discussion, the NDCRC is excited to announce the theme of the late 2022 Drug Court Review journal around Women in Treatment Courts. If you are interested in submitting articles or expert commentary for this volume, please reference the Call for Submissions and Author Guidelines available now!

NADCP's dynamic, self-paced e-learning center has just added a new course on the Adult Drug Court Best Practice Standards, Standard VI: Complementary Treatment and Social Services. Enroll today—it’s easy and free!

NADCP’s National Center for DWI Courts is now accepting applications for its 3.5-day foundational training. New for 2022, this training will feature a dynamic hybrid model of in-person and virtual instruction, where our experts travel to you!

Registration is now open for 1- and 2-day training for substance use treatment providers through NADCP’s National Drug Court Institute. This world-class training is produced in partnership with the American Society of Addiction Medicine and designed specifically for treatment professionals working with justice-involved clients. All training events are free and will be conducted virtually in 2022.

Closing Date: March 15, 2022

Posting Date: December 14, 2021

Available Now: Joint Jurisdiction Courts Needs Assessment

Tribal, state, federal and local courts have overlapping jurisdictions and face common challenges and resource limitations. To address these concerns, several jurisdictions have come together in a joint jurisdictional model that acknowledges each other’s autonomy while sharing resources for better outcomes for everyone. In September 2019, the Tribal Law and Policy Institute, in collaboration with the Bureau of Justice Assistance, disseminated a needs assessment survey to the joint jurisdiction courts known to be operational. TLPI gathered information on (1) the courts’ approach, design, and development; (2) the courts’ operations; (3) the court-connected services; (4) the court collaboration and coordination; (5) court record management and evaluation; and (6) techniques to sustain the courts. TLPI developed a full report of findings as well as a summary report. The needs assessment survey responses showed that these courts share similar characteristics and face similar challenges. The full report provides details on the findings of the needs assessment survey, including an overview of the lessons learned, the effectiveness of joint jurisdiction courts, and the funding needed to support their implementation, sustainability, and growth.

The website for NADCP’s RISE22 is now live! Get ready for our biggest, best conference yet, July 25-28 in Nashville, Tennessee! Stay tuned: housing and registration will open soon.

NADCP’s Justice For Vets released a new, free publication for volunteer veteran mentors and mentor coordinators: "Mentor Roles and Boundaries: Setting the Conditions for Success."

NADCP has launched a new series of cutting-edge training programs to help treatment courts to lead the way in equity and inclusion. Topics include caring for LGBTQ participants, conducting focus groups, and developing advisory boards.

Each month, the NDCRC highlights the treatment court work of one state or US territory. States submit a one-pager (and sometimes photos!) which is summarized within and attached to our newsletter. If your state is improving practices, setting new standards, or innovating to solve problems, we would love to feature you! Additionally, your state will be highlighted on our map of treatment courts showing how many of each type of court are operational. For more information, contact us at ndcrc@uncw.edu.

The Department of Justice has found that Pennsylvania discriminated against people with opioid use disorder by restricting access to medication-assisted treatment on the basis that limiting these medications put patients at increased risk of relapse, overdose, and death.

Johnson & Johnson and three other pharmaceutical distribution companies are ordered to pay $590 million to Native American tribes in the latest opioid settlement.

The Department of Justice is reevaluating its past decision which prohibited states to operate safe injection sites, taking into consideration methods and “appropriate guardrails.”

After its initial guidance in 2016 was meant to curb the exploding opioid crisis, the CDC intends to propose new prescribing recommendations allowing doctors to use best judgment based on patients’ needs. However, alternative treatments should be considered before opioid prescription and if necessary, “doctors should start with the lowest effective dose.”