Listen Now

From a single test case to a thriving mental health program that’s saved $2M in incarceration costs over two years: Prosecutor Jonathan Meyer and the team in Lewis County, Wash., are working to keep people with serious mental illnesses out of jail and in contact with the community resources they need. Hear about the inter-agency collaboration that made it all happen on this episode of Scaling Justice. Podcast recorded on Feb. 4, 2020.

“Your job is to make your data discoverable, not to hoard it.” Paul Wormeli has briefed everyone from the former director of national intelligence who wrote those words to J. Edgar Hoover to local agencies, and his message is clear: Integration and collaboration are key to solving justice problems. For over 50 years, Paul has advocated for data sharing in justice, and he joins Scaling Justice to discuss how data drives more equitable outcomes.

Amy Bach, founder of the non-profit Measures for Justice, lives by the motto: “You can’t change what you can’t see.” Illuminating the truth through data has been her life’s passion, and Amy works with agencies across the country to make meaningful change to promote justice. Hear stories about data research at MSJ, and get advice for how your agency can start moving toward greater transparency and positive change.

The line between health issues and legal issues is frequently blurred, particularly with mental illness and substance use disorders. How can we un-blur that line? How do we get people the help they need while maintaining public safety? Ayesha Delany-Brumsey of the Council of State Governments (CSG) Justice Center and Stepping Up Initiative joins Scaling Justice to examine health issues in the justice system and what’s making a difference.

Youth crime is down, but the severity of offenses is up. Abuse and neglect are on the rise. Kids today are dealing with a lot, and sometimes, courts have the opportunity to intervene at just the right moment to make a difference. Host Sue Humphreys welcomes the Honorable Judge Anthony Capizzi to talk about juvenile justice, the role of the court, and how alternative interventions are sparking positive change.

A2J has become one of the many buzzwords in the justice sector, but what does true access to justice look like? What can courts do to tip the scales toward accessibility? Join host Sue Humphreys as she digs into court accessibility with special guest Renee Danser, Associate Director of Research and Strategic Partnerships at the Access to Justice Lab at Harvard Law School.     

“People should be able to engage with the court how they would like to.” - Dunrie Greiling, Ph.D, Matterhorn What does the current shift toward citizen-centered technology mean for courts? MJ Cartwright, Court Innovations CEO, and Dunrie Greiling, Matterhorn product/market strategy, join host Sue Humphreys to discuss the evolution of online dispute resolution. Tune in to Scaling Justice Episode #4: Redefining Your "Day in Court": Citizen-Centered Court Technology  

During her first 20 years in criminal justice, working as a prosecutor and then a defense attorney, Judge Christine Carpenter saw how closely drugs and alcohol connect to crime and justice outcomes. She knew it was time to start treating substance use and abuse differently, and she became a pioneer in what we know today as Drug Courts. In the latest episode of Scaling Justice, host Sue Humphreys sits down with Judge Carpenter to hear her story. 

Data is central to the criminal justice decisions that affect lives, families, and communities every day. It drives more equitable outcomes, helps objectivity reign, and supports healthy communities. But how do we know the data is right? How do we know we can rely on it? Host Sue Humphreys tackles these tough questions and more with special guest Jane Wiseman, CEO of the Institute for Excellence in Government. Learn what data quality means for criminal justice practitioners and what each of us can do to make it better.

Court case management has evolved from a singular focus on clerk business to a broader network of support for judges, litigants and partners, and the public. What does this mean for court technology? Superior Court Chief Information Officers Snorri Ogata (Los Angeles County) and Michael Baliel (Santa Clara County) and longtime IT management consultant Joe Wheeler are veterans at navigating the complex relationship between courts and their technology, and they see an exciting path forward.