1. All Things CACJ Ms. Taylor Jones
Council of Accountability Courts Judges
Executive Director

2. Session Objectives What is an Accountability Court?
History of Georgia’s Accountability Courts
Council of Accountability Courts Judges Overview
Certification and Peer Review Overview
Funding Overview
What is next for Georgia’s Accountability Courts?
Special Projects!
Questions & Answers

3. Accountability Court 101 Alternative Sentencing Method
Often Referred to as a Problem Solving Court, Drug Court, or a Specialty Court.
Combines Treatment and Accountability in an Interdisciplinary Team Setting.
The 10 Key Components

4. Georgia’s Accountability Court History

13. Who is the Council of Accountability Courts Judges?
What do they do??

14. Purpose
The purpose of the Council will be to effectively carry forth the constitutional by-laws and legislative responsibility (HB328) to improve accountability courts and their quality through the expertise of Judges.   Another purpose and focus will be to establish standards and practices for all drug court divisions based on the National Drug Court Institute and Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration with a state goal of reducing recidivism of offenders with drug abuse problems. 

15. CACJ Mission Statement
To provide a unified framework that promotes and improves the quality, accessibility and administration of Accountability Courts.  

16. CACJ Objectives Take Georgia’s Accountability Courts to scale;
Reduce incarceration rates;
Determine funding priorities;
Encourage adherence to standards; and
Save lives and restore families.
Guiding Principles:
Equitable to all CACJ recognized courts
Sets achievable expectations and goals
Efficiently makes use of resources
Sustainable for the long term
Adheres to evidence based research & leading practices
Enhances public safety
Transparent to all

17. So How Does It All Work??
O.C.G.A. § Many Wonderful Partnerships!

18. Georgia State Partnerships

19. Applicable Statutes O.C.G.A. § 15-1-15 O.C.G.A. § 15-1-16

20. Council Membership & Standing Committees
ALL Superior, State, and Juvenile Court Judges that preside over an Adult Felony Drug Court, Adult Mental Health Court, Veterans Treatment Court, DUI Court, and/or a Family Treatment Court are Council members.
Standing Committees
Executive
Training
Standards & Certification
Metrics & Measures Subcommittee
Legislation Committee
Nominations Committee
Funding Committee

21. Meet the CACJ Staff Executive Director Chief Certification Officer
Treatment Support Fidelity Specialist
CACJ Operations Coordinator

22. Accountability Court Funding History
FY13 - $11,633,682.00
FY14 - $11,633,682.00
FY15 - $15,311,564.00
FY16 - $19,191,564.00
FY17 - $21,981,151.00
FY18 - $25,726,260.00
CACJ Operating Budget – $1,136, Separate appropriation and budget; supports peer review, certification staff salaries/expenses, and data repository.

23. Certification and Peer Review
Required by statute to receive state funding
As of FY18 all court types (except juvenile accountability courts) are subject to certification and peer review.
Improve court functioning and outcomes
Based on state standards and best practices developed from national research

24. Certification Program
Every two years
Paper audit (P&P Manual, Handbooks, MOUs…)
Staff review followed by Standards and Certification Committee
Full Certification, Provisional Certification, Waiver
Targeted Feedback

25. Peer Review Program Every three years
Visiting team = judge, coordinator, treatment
Pre-site visit survey
Site visit includes observation, interviews, participant focus group, exit interview
Full report delivered to team following visit

26. What is Next for Georgia’s Accountability Courts?

27. CACJ Special Projects
MAT Pilot Project focused on extended release injectable naltrexone (Vivitrol)
Determine the effectiveness by gathering data
Grow the program into other areas on the state.
Carl Vinson Economic Impact Study
Comparative Recidivism Analysis
Development of In-house Risk Assessment Tool
Further Development of CACJ Technical Assistance Program – Blended Learning
Development of Treatment Fidelity Monitoring Program
Continued Expansion of Georgia’s Accountability Courts!!

28. Questions?
Thank you for your attention!
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