Guest bloggers Professor David B. Wexler & Judge Michael D. Jones (Retired) talk about how to improve people's chances of successful transition from prison to community through a therapeutic application of existing law... A recent Mainstream TJ blog explored the "exportable elements" of the Louisiana Reentry Court spearheaded by Judge William (“Rusty”) Knight that could be explored in … Continue reading Creating a Re-Entry Court by wagging the probation tail
Amateur Therapists or Amateur Justice? Why we can’t let fear of progress slow therapeutic jurisprudence reform
I cannot imagine a more dangerous branch than an unrestrained judiciary full of amateur psychiatrists poised to "do good" rather than to apply the law. - Judge Morris Hoffman Some critics of therapeutic jurisprudence argue that when judges adopt a therapeutic role they act beyond both their expertise and beyond their proper functions as judges. … Continue reading Amateur Therapists or Amateur Justice? Why we can’t let fear of progress slow therapeutic jurisprudence reform
Key elements of a re-entry court for people transitioning from prison to community
Guest bloggers Judge William Knight, Caroline Cooper and David Wexler describe the Louisiana Reentry Court and identify features that may be exportable into other jurisdictions... Under the leadership of Judge William Knight, Louisiana’s 22nd Judicial District (St. Tammany and Washington Parishes) launched a Reentry Court for “high risk/high needs” offenders with multiple prior felony convictions … Continue reading Key elements of a re-entry court for people transitioning from prison to community
The Jury finds itself ‘Not Guilty’…
Guest blogger Yael Boneh explores how Therapeutic Jurisprudence thinking can improve the experience of jurors... Therapeutic jurisprudence (TJ) proposes that the legal system, judges, court officers, and lawyers constitute social forces that can exacerbate or alleviate potential harms on those coming in contact with the legal system including jurors. Jury trials are based on democratic principles. However, … Continue reading The Jury finds itself ‘Not Guilty’…
An experienced lawyer talks about how therapeutic jurisprudence improves justice…
Before becoming a professor, Michael Perlin was the Deputy Public Defender in charge of the Mercer County Trial Region in New Jersey, and, for eight years, was the director of the Division of Mental Health Advocacy in the NJ Department of the Public Advocate. Michael has represented thousands of persons with mental disabilities in individual … Continue reading An experienced lawyer talks about how therapeutic jurisprudence improves justice…
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