Treatment court programs have experienced decades of success working with high-risk, high-need individuals who become involved in the justice system as a direct or indirect result of substance use and mental health disorders. To continue to produce increased marks of success, treatment court programs should leverage the knowledge, resources, and skills of probation officers. Specifically, this involves implementing practices and skills demonstrated to work on justice-involved populations (e.g., evidence-based practices and core correctional practices) to enhance the outcomes of individuals participating in their programs and embracing probation officers as valued members of the court team.

Author:

By Kimberly A. Cobb, M.S.
Research Associate, American Probation and Parole Association

Date: 2016