Problem Solving Courts in Australia: The Application of Therapeutic Jurisprudence – Mostly

Guest blogger Michael Perlin, Professor Emeritus of Law, New York Law School and International Visiting Scholar RMIT School of Law reflects on his recent visit to Australia... I am now back home in New Jersey after a remarkable trip to Australia.*  I am doing this blog post now to share some ideas I have about … Continue reading Problem Solving Courts in Australia: The Application of Therapeutic Jurisprudence – Mostly

What can mainstream courts learn from aboriginal sentencing courts…

Guest blogger Jordan Tutton writes... In early 2016, a young Indigenous Australian man robbed a liquor store in the southern suburbs of Adelaide, South Australia. He pleaded guilty and asked to be sentenced in a specialist criminal court established to sentence Indigenous Australians. That Court was convened in September 2016 around a comically long Bar … Continue reading What can mainstream courts learn from aboriginal sentencing courts…

Creating a Re-Entry Court by wagging the probation tail

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