Endorsing and Supporting: Judicial Education on Substance Abuse: Promoting and Expanding Judicial Awareness and Leadership
Resolution 17: Endorsing and Supporting: Judicial Education on Substance Abuse: Promoting and Expanding Judicial Awareness and Leadership
WHEREAS, the pervasive problem of substance abuse is often before the courts; and
WHEREAS, the courts have a unique opportunity to heighten accountability for substance abusers and to stop recidivism; and
WHEREAS, the courts support ongoing education, implementation of effective strategies and collaboration regarding substance abuse issues; and
WHEREAS, the American Judges Association and the National Center for State Courts, in partnership with a variety of national organizations, has developed an educational curriculum in response to these judicial needs; and
WHEREAS, the resulting curriculum--Judicial Education on Substance Abuse: Promoting and Expanding Judicial Awareness and Leadership--was developed and refined based on the following objectives:
- generate an awareness of substance abuse issues before courts;
- identify the judicial role in responding to litigants and to the community in cases with substance abuse issues;
- provide a basic understanding of the nature of substance abuse, addiction and recovery, and treatment modalities;
- assist the judge with the development of strategies and tools for addressing cases with substance abuse problems; and
- encourage judges to collaborate with other judges, lawyers and interested community leaders in best addressing cases with abuse issues and in developing problem-solving approaches generally; and
WHEREAS, this curriculum has been piloted at two widely attended judicial conferences;
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the Conference of Chief Justices:
- endorses the objectives and strategies set forth in the Judicial Education on Substance Abuse: Promoting and Expanding Judicial Awareness and Leadership;
- supports such curriculum based on these objectives and strategies as a useful tool for dealing with cases involving substance abuse; and
- acknowledges the benefit of collaborative efforts between and among national organizations in the development of educational materials enhancing judicial awareness and practices.
Adopted as proposed by the Problem-Solving Courts Committee of the Conference of Chief Justices at its 26th Midyear Meeting on January 30, 2003.