The goal of this project is to understand how interventions given to individuals arrested for drug misuse impact morbidity and mortality outcomes. This study will analyze data from January 01, 2018 to June 30, 2021.
Legal epidemiologists, program evaluators, biostatisticians, modelers, physicians, and program managers comprise the multidisciplinary, inter-organizational team.
Elizbeth Van Nostrand, JD, the project’s Principal Investigator, leads this team. Her research includes the impact of laws before, during, and after disasters/pandemics and the opioid crisis.
The legal team uses legal epidemiological methods to analyze the impact law has on non-fatal and fatal opioid events. Like other scientific disciplines, legal epidemiology tests theories and hypotheses by following systematic procedures and methods. Consequently, legal epidemiology research produces results that are transparent, replicable, precise, and measurable.
The legal team is coding Problem Solving Court and correctional facility protocols, eligibility criteria, and interventions offered to individuals arrested for drug misuse.
Problem Solving Courts
Problem Solving Courts are specialized dockets specialized dockets that seek to treat the underlying problems contributing to criminal behavior.
As of June 2021, the Indiana Office of Court Services reports there are 118 Problem Solving Courts in Indiana and 18 are in planning stages. This study focuses on Problem Solving Courts that offer interventions to adults with substance use disorder.
Click on the headings to learn more about each type of Problem Solving Court.
Adult Drug Courts
These courts offer specialized programs designed to offer long-term drug treatment to individuals with substance use disorder. Source: National Drug Court Resource Center
Domestic Violence Courts
These courts hold domestic violence offenders accountable and reduce recidivism by offering access to social services and interventions in addition to support for domestic violence victims. Source: National Institute of Justice
Family Recovery Courts
These courts focus on the wellbeing of children whose guardians have a substance use problem. They offer long-term treatment, much like adult drug courts. Source: NPR News
Mental Health Courts
These courts divert individuals with serious mental illnesses from incarceration to community based treatment programs. Source: National Institute of Justice
Re-Entry Courts
These courts manage the transition of incarcerated individuals into the community by coordinating mental health treatment and other services. Source: National Criminal Justice Reference Service
Veterans Courts
These courts address the unique mental health and substance abuse issues that arise from military service. Source: Justice for Vets