Therapeutic jurisprudence (TJ) invites us to look at the design of the law itself and also the application of the law (legal procedures and the roles of legal actors) to see how we can improve therapeutic benefits for people involved in the legal system. A TJ approach therefore requires us to continually reflect on the latest … Continue reading TJ thinking: mental health & criminal justice responses
Glimmers of TJ hope in Australia’s north?
Guest bloggers Jared Sharp and Amelia Noble write about glimmers of therapeutic hope in the Northern Territory’s mass incarceration catastrophe[1]... The Northern Territory (Australia) is in the grips of an unparalled mass incarceration crisis. In September 2015, the NT imprisonment rate was 882 per 100,000 of the adult population.[2] This is four times the national average[3] … Continue reading Glimmers of TJ hope in Australia’s north?
Can plea bargaining/criminal settlement processes be therapeutic?
Therapeutic jurisprudence (TJ) is a lens through which we can improve the effectiveness of criminal justice systems. TJ invites us to ask - Can we redesign the law itself, can we apply the law in different ways that will improve the wellbeing of people involved in it? Plea bargaining, settlement conferences and other processes that seek … Continue reading Can plea bargaining/criminal settlement processes be therapeutic?
Is there a role for mindfulness meditation in courts?
Guest blogger Judge Jamey H. Hueston talks about the role meditation can play in offender substance abuse recovery and a range of legal disputes... Introduction Meditation was offered by the Baltimore City Drug Treatment Court 15 years ago before reaching the mainstream popularity enjoyed today. Today, scientific research supports meditation which DTC adopted by intuition … Continue reading Is there a role for mindfulness meditation in courts?
So what does an evidence based approach to criminal justice reform look like?
The Justice Center of the Council of State Governments (USA) has an interesting project that is working to improving mainstream criminal justice systems. The Justice Centre of the Council of State Governments project - The County Justice and Behavioral Health Improvement Project - is a national initiative that uses qualitative and quantitative research to improve outcomes for people … Continue reading So what does an evidence based approach to criminal justice reform look like?
The ISTJ Blog 