Harm Reduction Meets the Criminal Legal System

Transcription

1 Harm Reductin Meets the Criminal Legal System Andrya Sprych, LCSW, CGLA Aisha Crnelius Edwards, Criminal Defense Attrney, CGLA Cynthia Crnelius, Asst. Dir. Of Legal Prgrams, CGLA Avi Rudnick, Husing First Prgram Manager, Chicag Huse & Vlunteer Attrney, Transfrmative Justice Law Prject September 11, 2015 The Criminal Legal System (Avi) Overview f Harm Reductin and the Legal System (Andrya) Harm Reductin and Criminal Defense (Aisha) Harm Reductin and Criminal Recrds Relief (Cynthia) Meeting Peple Where They Are: The Cabrini Green Legal Aid and Chicag Huse Mdels (Andrya & Avi) Tpics

2 The Crimin al Leg al System ttttt tttt ttttttttttttttt tttttttftttttttt tttttttttttttttt ttttttfttttitttt ttttthttttttttt tttttttttttttttt ttm-tttttttttt tt t ttt

3 Number f Peple in Prisns and Jails fr Drug Offenses, 1980 and Sciel)' Ttal Crrectins Ppulatin in Illinis Ttal Incarcerated (Prisn and Jail) 68,719 Prisn Ppulatin 48,653 Rate per 100,000 (377) Jail Ppulatin 20,066 Rate per 100,000 (157) Prbatin Ppulatin 124,507 Parle Ppulatin 27,456

4 Racial/Ethnic Disparity in Incarceratin in Illinis Black: White Rati Hispanic: White Rati 9.1 : : 1 FELONY DISENFRANCHISEMENT Ttal Disenfranchised African American 50,503 (.05%) 27,933 (2%) JUVENILES IN CUSTODY 2,106 ILLINOIS CORRECTIONS EXPENDITURES $1,378,000,000 One Billin Three Hundred and Seventy-Eight millin!! In cntrast, in FY2014, Chicag Public Schls reprted a ne billin dllar deficit.

5 Harm Reductin and The Legal System

6 Criminal System Sex Trade Substance use Mental health Civil System Physical Health Self-harm Older adults Individuals have a vice The fcus is n reducing harm, nt cnsumptin There are n pre-defined utcmes The individual s decisin t engage in risky behavirs is accepted The individual is expected t take respnsibility fr his r her wn behavir The individual is treated with dignity Heartland Midwest Harm Reductin Institute 2009 Harm Reductin and Criminal Defense

7 Offenses That May Implicate a Need fr Harm Reductin Apprach Sme Obvius Ones: Pssessin f a Cntrlled Substance Pssessin f Cannabis DUI/Public Intxicatin Prstitutin Sme Nt t Obvius Ones Seen in Repetitin: Panhandling Disrderly Cnduct Criminal Trespass t State Land Retail Theft Harm Reductin and Criminal Defense Cncepts f Criminal Sentences T Deter Future Cnduct T Rehabilitate the Individual T Punish r Hld Them Accuntable In ther wrd Fix Them Frce Quit Zer Tlerance f Use f Prhibited Substances Zer Tlerance f Engaging in Sex Trade Frce Cmpliance Take All Mental Health Medicatins as Prescribed Harm Reductin and Criminal Defense

8 What the criminal legal system allws that prmtes the harm reductin apprach Finding f N Prbable Cause n small amunts Drug Schl Diversin (CCSAO) Less punishment fr prstitutin (n lnger a felny ffense) Less punishment fr cannabis ffenses (admin tickets) Untreated Mental Health r Substance Issues Can Be Used As Mitigatin t Get Alternatives t Incarceratin: Mental Health Prbatin Treatment Alternatives fr Safe Cmmunities (TASC) prbatin Prbatin with treatment generally Methadne treatment* (during prbatin) Harm Reductin and Criminal Defense Hw the criminal legal system des NOT aid harm reductin Randm Urine Drp Vilatins & Incarceratin Frced Inpatient (In Custdy) Therapy fr Substance Issues Can be part f a prbatin vilatin r riginal sentence Can even be part f bnd befre any finding f r plea f guilty Mental Health, Frced Medicatin & Incarceratin fr Nncmpliance An individual may be taken int custdy t get them stable n prescribed medicatin Harm Reductin and Criminal Defense

9 Assessing the client s gals and needs Open ended and safe discussin at initial meeting abut the client, encuraging the client t be candid abut Histry f drug use Histry f mental health cncerns Desires, r lack theref, fr treatment r therapy Then pen the discussin t gals and desires fr the case in light f their persnal gals This can dictate the case strategy depending n the facts and the nature f the ffense T litigate r t mitigate, r a cmbinatin f bth Get supprt fr client thrugh scial wrk (CSS) Harm Reductin and Criminal Defense Harm Reductin and Criminal Recrds Relief

10 Optins Available t Overcme Barriers Created by Criminal Recrds Eligible Nn- Cnvictins and Cnvictins Expunge Seal Ineligible Cnvictins Executive Clemency Health Care Waiver Certificates f Rehabilitatin Licensure Hearings Har m Reductin an d Criminal Recrds Relief Factrs Cnsidered Explanatin f Cnvictin Reasns and Justificatin fr Specific Relief Prf f Rehabilitatin Specific t Recrd Educatinal and Emplyment Histry Cntext f Criminal Histry in Life Histry Har m Reductin an d Criminal Recrds Relief

11 Implicatins f Harm Reductin n Criminal Recrds Relief Inability t demnstrate rehabilitatin Delay r Denial f Petitin fr Relief Disqualificatin frm Emplyment and Husing Har m Reductin an d Criminal Recrds Relief Meeting Clients Where They Are The CGLA & Chicag Huse Mdels

12 Meeting the client where they are Interdisciplinary Empathic listening Wrking thrugh cnflicting gals Empwerment fcused Strength-based Educatin Meeting Clients Where They Are: The CGLA Mdel Meeting the client where they are Trauma Infrmed Care Client Centered/Fcused Hlistic Apprach Meeting Clients Where They Are: The Chicag Huse Mdel

13 Have clients fill ut ROI s fr CCDOC, IDOC, Adult Prbatin, and Public Defender Encurage clients t shw up t curt dates Attend as many curt dates fr clients as pssible Bring ROI t curt and speak with the public defender Search IDOC and CCDOC Always check reverse name rder (i.e., put first name in the last name slt) HARM REDUCTION STRATEGIES If pssible stand up fr yur client in curt and address the judge regarding yur client s husing if questined Put n all yur charm fr curt fficers, plice fficers, crrectinal fficers, attrneys, judges, curt clerks, etc. Call Cermak Health Services if client is nt getting medical needs met Visit yur client in jail HARM REDUCTION STRATEGIES

14 Questins?