In Support of the Commitment to Ensure that All Judges and Court Staff Have Access to Behavioral Health Training and Ongoing Education
Resolution 1-2024 In Support of the Commitment to Ensure that All Judges and Court Staff Have Access to Behavioral Health Training and Ongoing Education
WHEREAS, in 2017, the National Judicial Opioid Task Force was created "to develop tools, resources, and policy recommendations to address the opioid epidemic;" and
WHEREAS, in 2019, the Conference of Chief Justices (CCJ) and the Conference of State Court Administrators (COSCA) adopted the recommendations of the National Judicial Opioid Task Force and resolved, ". . . to encourage the development and operation of court programs, practices and policies implemented in response to the abuse and misuse of opioids and other addictive substances;" and
WHEREAS, in 2020, the National Judicial Task Force to Examine State Courts' Response to Mental Illness was created to "assist state courts in their efforts to more effectively respond to the needs of court-involved individuals with serious mental illness;" and
WHEREAS, in 2022, CCJ and COSCA adopted the recommendations of the National Judicial Task Force to Examine State Courts' Response to Mental Illness and resolved, ". . . with the leadership of the CCJ/COSCA Behavioral Health Commitee . . . to implement the recommendations of the Task Force . . .;" and
WHEREAS, many courts have implemented successful education programs, there is sll a need and responsibility for all state and local courts to lead and promote these education efforts;
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Conference of Chief Justices and the Conference of State Court Administrators renew their commitment to ensuring that behavioral health education be provided through new and ongoing training curricula for judicial officers, court personnel, and justice system partners as set forth in the Findings and Recommendations of the National Task Force to Examine the State Courts' Response to Mental Illness;
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Conference of Chief Justices and the Conference of State Court Administrators encourage states to promote the incorporation of behavioral health education into existing and future educational efforts;
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Conference of Chief Justices and the Conference of State Court Administrators support the objectives and curriculum of the Judges and Psychiatrists Leadership Initiative.
Adopted as proposed by the CCJ/COSCA Behavioral Health Commitee at the CCJ/COSCA 2024 Annual Meeting on August 7, 2024.