Treatment courts are grounded in the belief that people can, and do, change. The process isn’t easy. It takes time, can be full of setbacks and frustrations, and demands patience from everyone involved. But helping someone rewrite their story and rebuild their life is also one of the most rewarding aspects of this work. In this episode, Georgia Judge Charles Auslander talks through the standard on incentives, sanctions, and service adjustments and draws on his years of experience behind the bench in an impaired driving treatment court and as faculty for All Rise.

In recent years, the recognition of positive and negative forces that impact an individual’s recovery from substance use disorder has broadened approaches to treatment. For anyone impacted by substance use disorder, and especially for individuals in treatment court, recovery capital is crucial to achieving long-term recovery. In this episode, we talk with national treatment and recovery expert Julie Seitz about the latest in our understanding of recovery.

Our understanding of treatment continues to evolve. We sat down with national treatment and recovery expert Julie Seitz to talk the latest science around substance use disorder, person-centered treatment, and what appropriate responses to resumed use look like.

Treatment courts have a unique opportunity to ensure that all eligible individuals have access to treatment and an equal chance to succeed. In this episode, we’re joined by Rachel Lindley from the Maryland Office of the Public Defender. Rachel explores Standard II: Equity and Inclusion, discussing how treatment courts can improve access, retention, and program completion.

Treatment courts work, but they are not meant for everyone. In fact, putting the wrong people in treatment court can have a negative impact. Former New Hampshire Superior Court Chief Justice Tina Nadeau helps us understand the right target population for treatment courts and why not following this standard jeopardizes all others.

Ten years of addiction nearly cost Deena Davis everything. Five seconds in a Georgia courtroom offered her a chance to get it all back. Deena bravely shares her journey from casual experimentation to substance use disorder, motherhood, finding recovery, and why she now has a key to the courthouse.