TASC News--2006 Archives
TASC Partners With NIDA and Others to Train Judges on Science of Addiction
Curriculum provides judges with information to guide judicial decision making
CHICAGO - The National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA), in partnership with national experts on judicial processes, has introduced a leading-edge training program for judges on the science of addiction. The intensive six-hour training curriculum was piloted in Cook County (IL) on November 15.
The Circuit Court of Cook County, which is one of the largest unified court systems in the world, was selected as the site of the pilot training based on its success in overseeing numerous interventions for drug-involved offenders, most recently a model mental health court for felony offenders. Chief Judge Timothy C. Evans and Hon. Paul P. Biebel, Jr., presiding judge of the court's criminal division, were two of the key organizers of the training.
The NIDA training, entitled, It's a Brain Disease: Beyond a Reasonable Doubt, shows the latest research regarding the neurobiological and behavioral effects of addiction. The presentation clearly demonstrated the changes in the brain resulting from chronic drug use and the impact those changes can have on behavior. NIDA Deputy Director Timothy P. Condon, Ph.D. was the lead presenter in the training for more than 20 judges of the Circuit Court of Cook County Criminal Division. The conclusion, Dr. Condon said, is that drug addiction effectively "rewires the brain," turning what begins as voluntary drug use into compulsive drug use.
This insight, Dr. Condon and other presenters said, helps explain why drug-addicted women and men involved with the criminal justice system often have such a difficult time following judges' orders to remain drug free.
"This is why addicts can't just quit," Dr. Condon said. "This is why treatment is essential."
Redonna Chandler, Ph.D. also of NIDA, said that the goal of drug treatment, carried out through pharmacology and behavioral interventions, is to change addicted brains so that they are again able to resist the compulsion to use drugs. Chandler emphasized that judicial involvement, to ensure that individuals sentenced to treatment do in fact attend their treatment sessions, can be one of the best ways to improve treatment success.
Hon. Karen Freeman-Wilson, a former Indiana attorney general and drug court judge and current CEO of the National Association of Drug Court Professionals (NADCP), presented research showing the effectiveness of a system of both rewards and sanctions for encouraging offenders to attend mandated treatment.
Partnering to Develop a National Curriculum
In addition to ongoing education for Cook County judges, another goal of the recent session was to field test a curriculum that NIDA will use around the country.
"The feedback from this pilot training will be used to inform the creation and administration process of a larger, national-level judicial training curriculum," said Melody M. Heaps, president of TASC, Inc. (Treatment Alternatives for Safe Communities), which played a central role in the development of the curriculum.
Researchers from the University of Illinois at Chicago (UIC) surveyed the judges before and after the training session in an effort to gauge changes in knowledge and attitudes relating to drug use and addiction. This information will be analyzed and incorporated into future presentations of the training program.
The curriculum development partners included NIDA, the Circuit Court of Cook County, TASC, the University of Illinois at Chicago, NADCP, the Legal Action Center, the National Judicial College, the National Center for State Courts, expert judges from around the country, and the National TASC association.
TASC Staff Advance Skills, Clients to Benefit
(Chicago, November) In November, TASC clinical supervisors throughout Illinois assembled at the Chicago administrative offices to attend an intensive 3-day training series.
Great Lakes Addiction Technology Transfer Center (GLATTC) trainers Mark Sanders and Serena Wadhwa facilitated the series, which focused on the teaching and mentoring aspects of clinical supervision in addiction treatment settings.
These trainings are part of an ongoing effort to bring the best in evidence-based practices to TASC's statewide client services.
TASC VP Receives IADDA Prevention Award
(Oakbrook, September 18) The Illinois Alcoholism and Drug Dependence Association (IADDA) awarded TASC Vice President Peter Palanca with the Prevention Leadership award during its annual conference in Oakbrook, Illinois.
IADDA's Prevention Leadership award is given to individuals who bring public attention to the need for prevention, provide vision and leadership to the field, and believe in the unlimited potential of young people and adults working together to create a better world.
IADDA CEO Joe Anna Sullivan, upon presenting the award, cited Palanca’s commitment to prevention and treatment and his dedication to strengthening Illinois' youth and families.
TASC Contributes to Drug Effect Exhibit at local Museum
(Chicago) The Drug Enforcement Agency’s (DEA) Target America: Opening Eyes to the Damage Drugs Cause exhibit at the Museum of Science and Industry gave an in-depth view of the effects of drugs. TASC assisted with the local depiction.
The exhibit displayed the negative effects drugs have on individuals,families and communities. The Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP), the Centers for Substance Abuse Prevention and Treatment (CSAP/CSAT), the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA), and TASC were major contributors. Local story segments included the history of drugs in Chicago, the role of local law enforcement, and the city’s innovative programs for prevention, intervention, treatment, and recovery.
The Chicago’s Local Story panels from the exhibit may be seen at Navy Pier over the following year.
Local Commitment to Drug Prevention Draws NIDA
(Chicago, July 24) Local leadership’s commitment to intervention and treatment for nonviolent, drug-involved offenders prompted the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) to choose Chicago as the location to announce its most recent publication, "Principles of Drug Addiction Treatment for Criminal Justice Populations."
Chicago Mayor Richard M. Daley; Cook County Chief Judge Timothy C. Evans; and TASC President Melody M. Heaps joined Dr. Nora Volkow, Director of NIDA; to introduce six individuals whose success illustrates the powerful results that can occur when these principles are applied.
Today all six individuals hold jobs, pay taxes, care for friends and families, and contribute to the betterment of their communities. Their journey to treatment and recovery began as part of their experience in the criminal justice system. Tim Bell, Cheryl Cline, and Angel Cruz (of TASC) spoke about their journey to sobriety during the event, and Benny Lee (of TASC), Michorn Thompson and Yvonne Thomas were there to share their stories of recovery with the press.
During the event TASC was recognized by NIDA, Mayor Daley, and Chief Judge Timothy Evans for its role in connecting the criminal justice system to treatment.
2006 RAP, Mental Health Court Graduates Honored
(Chicago, May 25)
The fourteenth graduation ceremony for the Rehabilitation Alternative Probation(RAP) program and the first Mental Health Court graduation ceremony brought long awaited signs of joy as graduates celebrated their achievement of completing the program.
Under the direction of Chief Judge Timothy C. Evans and Presiding Judge of the Criminal Division Paul P. Biebel Jr., the RAP and mental health court programs combine sanctions and services that help offenders deal with their substance use and mental health issues.
“This day is a celebration of success,” said Judge Biebel. “Too many in the criminal justice system do not succeed. We are in a position not just to put people away, but to help them change their lives.”
Cook County State’s Attorney Richard A. Devine, quoting the statistical success of both programs in reducing re-arrests, was keen to acknowledge that numbers aren’t the most important aspect of these initiatives.
“Statistics are nice, but this is really about individuals, hard work and drive. It’s about those who have taken the first steps toward change,” he said. “This is not the end of anything; it is the beginning of a lot of good things.”
TASC client and the first female mental health court graduate Latina Washington was identified by Judge Fox, who presides over the RAP program and the mental health court for female probationers ,as one of the program’s “shining stars” and a testament that the process works.
Washington has been clean for 16 months and is active in recovery meetings and has recently procured her own apartment.
Federal Official Praises Cook County Mental Health Court
(Chicago, May 4, 2006) Cook County’s Mental Health Court, co-supported by TASC, has received recognition by a top U.S. official for its efforts in diverting and treating individuals with mental health disorders.
Charles Curie, Administrator for the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), hailed the program as a “good sign” for similar endeavors across the country when he visited the court on April 20.
“All too often, individuals with mental illness, often with co-occurring substance abuse, are incarcerated instead of receiving treatment for their disorders,” Curie said. “By providing treatment and support services, we can avoid the unnecessary criminalization and incarceration of non-violent adult offenders with mental illness.”
A grant received from the federal agency in October 2005 will allow the initiative to almost triple the number of participants it currently serves, from about 30 to nearly 70-80.
In conjunction with police, judges, attorneys, probation officers and mental health experts, TASC associates help redirect nonviolent offenders with mental health disorders from incarceration into voluntary treatment programs and community-based services. While there are several similar programs throughout the country, Cook County is unique in working with felony offenders, utilizing a clinical approach, and employing unparalleled collaboration within public and private systems.
Sheridan Client's Essay Shines in Writing Contest
(Ogelsby, IL) Freddron Mendoza, recently released from the Sheridan Correctional Center, was awarded first place in the third annual Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. writing contest at Illinois Valley Community College (IVCC).
Mendoza had been taking courses through IVCC's extension program while at Sheridan. Through this program, IVCC offers individuals at the correctional center a number of academic and vocational programs.
The contest, sponsored by IVCC's diversity team and student government, was open to all students taking classes from the college. The topic assigned for the writing contest was the Civil Rights Movement.
Mendoza's post-release case manager from TASC, Tommie Johnson, accompanied him to the awards ceremony held at IVCC on March 1st. There, Mendoza had the opportunity to read his winning essay, "United By Civil Rights," before an audience. Those in attendance to show their support for Mendoza included Warden Michael Rothwell, Sheridan Drug Prison & Reentry Program; Peggy Blair, Sheridan Project Coordinator at IVCC; Steve Swett, Sheridan Program Counselor at IVCC; and Keith Peterson, Sheridan Program Warehousing, Shipping, Receiving Instructor from IVCC.
Judge Biebel Honored for His Initiatives With the MHC
(Chicago)The National Alliance for the Mentally Ill (NAMI) of Greater Chicago honored Judge Paul P. Biebel, Jr., Presiding Judge of the Cook County Criminal Division, for his leadership in creating the Mental Health Court of Cook County at its Light the Darkness Benefit on March 2nd.
Judge Biebel thanked TASC and other affiliated organizations for their work in the development and implementation of the Mental Health Court (MHC).
The MHC is a national model program dedicated to providing treatment and other support for mentally ill offenders who are processed through the criminal justice system. Since its inception in April of 2004, the MHC has significantly reduced re-arrests. MHC participants averaged 3.9 arrests in the year prior to their admission to the MHC, compared to an average 0.63 arrests in the year after their admission.
TASC Supports Gov. Blagojevich, IDOC in Creating Meth Treatment Units
(January 26, 2006)TASC commended Governor Rod Blagojevich on the announcement last week of his administration's plan to create two prison units dedicated to providing substance abuse treatment and rehabilitation for inmates addicted to methamphetamine.
"I applaud the governor for his visionary thinking," said TASC President Melody M. Heaps.
"In recognizing that treatment for addiction has an important role to play in reducing crime, cutting inmate recidivism, and increasing public safety, Governor Blagojevich has the right plan for Illinois," Heaps continued.
In support of the plan, and to offer its perspective on successful reentry programming, TASC leadership are attending press conferences and community round table discussions around the state, beginning with an event January 19th in Peoria.
