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Criminal Justice, Community Leaders to Explore New Solutions to Juvenile Chemical Use and Addiction

Posted: Monday, July 22, 2002

ST. PAUL, MN (July 22, 2002) – Nearly 275 criminal justice and community leaders are expected to participate in an upcoming conference meant to pioneer new ways of addressing chemical use and addiction amongst juveniles.

The Minnesota Supreme Court is sponsoring the July 30-31 conference in St. Cloud, MN called Ending the Disconnect, Advancing the Dialogue: Innovative Judicial Interventions for Chemical Health.  Conference participants will hear about chemical health issues from national leaders – including Gen. Barry McCaffrey, former Director of the Office of National Drug Control Policy - talk to their colleagues across the criminal justice system and together, focus on solutions to the challenge chemical use problems pose for the courts.

Statistics show that alcohol and other drug use plays a significant role in 80 percent of the criminal and traffic cases that enter the court system each year.

"This conference offers us an innovative way to address one of the most significant factors that is driving our courts, corrections, social services and law enforcement budgets,” said Minnesota Supreme Court Justice James H. Gilbert.  “A thorough discussion of these issues helps us end the disconnect between reality and complaining, and helps us better utilize our resources to organize an effective response to the issues we are seeing."

Each of Minnesota’s 10 judicial districts has created a multidisciplinary team that will attend the conference and explore possible responses to the problem of juvenile chemical addiction with the help of skilled facilitators leading intensive breakout sessions.  In addition to judges and court officials, conference attendees will include county attorneys, public defenders, chemical, mental and public health professionals, school officials, law enforcement personnel, clergy and people recovering from chemical addiction.

During the conference, the Supreme Court will issue a request for proposals that seeks new and innovative court-related programs to address juvenile chemical addiction.

The conference is made possible through a grant from the federal Juvenile Accountability Incentive Block Grant Program, administered through the Minnesota Department of Economic Security’s Office of Youth Development.

 Highlights of the conference include:

 July 30, 2002

  • 8:45 a.m.            Welcome, Ramsey County District Court Judge Joanne Smith
  • 8:55 a.m.            Opening Remarks, MN Supreme Court Justice James Gilbert.
  • 9:20 a.m.            Addictive Disease and its Treatment, Dr. Mark Willenbring, MN Veterans Affairs Medical Center.
  • 11:30 a.m.            Bad Girls? Confronting Stereotypes of Young Females in the Juvenile Justice System, Paula Schaefer, Director of Planning, Female Offenders Unit, MN Department of Corrections.  Schooling the Courts: Innovative Solutions in Schools, Sharon McDonald, Hopkins School District, and Nancy Riestenberg, MN Dept. of Children, Families and Learning.
  • 1:30 p.m.            Examining Each Piece of the Puzzle.  Attendees will discuss ways of addressingalcohol and other drug addiction.
  • 2:25 p.m.            The Whole is Greater than the Sum of the Parts, report to the large group.
  • 3:40 p.m.            It is not a Black and White World: Cultural Issues, Chemical Dependency and theCriminal Justice System, Peter Bell, Hazelden Foundation.
  • 7:15 p.m.            Slaying the Dragon: Dinner and Speaker, Bill White, Chestnut Health Systems.

 July 31, 2002

  • 8:20 a.m.            Welcome,  Hennepin County District Court Judge Kevin Burke.
  • 8:30 a.m.             Opening Remarks, Karen Freeman-Wilson, National Association of Drug Court Professionals.
  • 9 a.m.              What We Know, We Don’t Know, Carol Falkowski, Hazelden Foundation.
  • 9:45 a.m.            Innovative Judicial Interventions Panel,  Hennepin County District Court Judge Stephen Aldrich, Wabasha County District Court Judge Gerard Ring, Ramsey County District Court Judge Joanne Smith, Aubrey Fox, Center for Court Innovation.
  • 11 a.m.             “The Significant Problems We Face…” Participants explore regional strengths and challenges of dealing with addiction in the criminal justice system.
  • 1 p.m.              Show Me the Change! Funding and Other Resources, Kristin Lail, MN Department of Public Safety, Julius Dupree, Drug Courts Program Office.
  • 1:30 p.m.            Filling in the Gaps, Participants look at ways they can collaborate in the future.
  • 3:15 p.m.            Advancing the Dialogue, Participants acknowledge common challenges and opportunities for future cooperation.
  • 4 p.m.              Keynote Speaker, Gen. Barry McCaffrey, Director of the White House Office of National Drug Policy, 1996-2001.

What:          “Ending the Disconnect, Advancing the Dialogue: Innovative Judicial Interventions for Chemical Health.”

Who:          Judges, court officials, county attorneys, public defenders, health professionals, school officials, law enforcement, clergy and others.

When:          Tuesday, July 30, 2002 – Wednesday, July 31, 2002.

Where:          Kelly Inn, 100 Fourth Avenue South, St. Cloud, MN.