CACJ NJO 2023 Workbook_FIX

149/189 “The primary mechanism by which drug courts reduce substance use and crime is through the Judge.” -When offenders have more positive attitudes toward the Judge, they have better outcomes -Judges with a more positive judicial demeaner (respectful, fair, caring and knowledgeable) produce better outcomes The Multi-Site Adult Drug Court Evaluation: Executive Summary 13 Knowledgeable Judge Helps Ensure Treatment’s Fidelity to the Model “What separates drug court Judges from traditional Judges is training in addiction, understanding how to motivate behavior change, and simple empathy. Drug Court Judges do not act as therapists or amateur psychiatrists. However, the relationship between the drug court participant and the Judge is a significant factor in recovery. NDCI The Drug Court Judicial Benchbook, (2017) p.51 14 CACJ New Judges Orientation

150/189 Just as judges dealing with antitrust cases need to understand basic principles of economics and judges dealing with patent cases need to understand basic principles of engineering, judges in problem solving courts, dealing as they do with human problems, need to understand some principles of psychology, the science of human behavior. They must be aware that they are functioning as therapeutic agents, and that how they interact with the individuals appearing before them will have inevitable consequences for their ability to be rehabilitated or otherwise deal with their underlying problems. Fordham Urban Law Journal, Vo. 30|Number 3, 2003, Bruce J. Winick 15 Enfusing Treatment Language into the broader program and court “Be smart, not strong.” “Relapse is a process, not an event.” “Disloyalty is the lowest moral and behavioral stage in which a person can function.” “There are 168 hours in a week.” “Develop action plans for your goals.” 16 CACJ New Judges Orientation

151/189 Keeping a focus on reducing recidivism NADCP 17 COURT TIME IS USED BEST WHEN IT REINFORCES TREATMENT GOALS Best Practices tell us that Judges should meet with the participants regularly and the Judicial interaction should be 3 minutes (regardless of participant compliance)! NADCP: Adult Drug Court Best Practice Standards, Volume I, p. 21 Translating Drug Court Research into Practice, 2012 Florida Adult Drug Court Best Practice Standards, 2017 18 CACJ New Judges Orientation

152/189 How do we use what we know? What is Motiovational Interviewing (MI)? “MI is a collaborative, goal-oriented style of communication with particular attention to the language of change. It is designed to strengthen personal motivation for and commitment to a specific goal by eliciting and exploring the person’s own reasons for change within an atmosphere of acceptance and compassion.” Miller, W.R. & Rollnick, S. (2013) Motivational Interviewing: Helping people to change (3rd Edition). Guilford Press. 19 COURT AS THEATER - Sanctions and Incentives 20 CACJ New Judges Orientation

153/189 How to Form Initial and Follow-up Questions 1. Judges must rely on Treatment to keep you updated on each participant’s progress and the recent lessons and treatment goals 2. Questions should be related to lessons discussed over the previous 2-4 weeks depending upon the treatment curriculum 3. Use suggested questions from treatment but feel free to modify 4. The lessons provide a goldmine of information to explore -Cravings -Responsibility -Triggers -Goal Setting -Helping Others -Coping Skills -Relationships -Avoiding Situations -Self Care 21 Examples of Questions:  What techniques have helped you stop triggers you encounter from becoming cravings for substances (alcohol or drugs)?  How does self-care help in your recovery?  What are the benefits of using coping skills in a high risk situation?  What are you doing right in the program that is bringing you contentment?  Why is sheer willpower not enough for you to remain clean and sober?  What are some of the values of the person you chose to trade places with?  When have you tried being strong instead of smart? What were the results?  How has patience helped you in your recovery? (or asked another way)  In what situations can you be too patient? 22 CACJ New Judges Orientation

154/189 Examples of Questions, cont’d:  What are some important guidelines to follow when making goals?  How do you distinguish between things you can control and things you cannot?  How does feeling overwhelmed affect your behavior?  How does staying positive get you through difficult times?  What will help you continue to be honest in your recovery?  What problems does lacking self-control cause in life? OR  What benefits could you gain from having more self-control?  In which ways can guilt be a positive factor in your recovery? OR  How can guilt be harmful to your recovery? 23 Don’t Fear Silence  Some participants just need time to recall and formulate  Demonstrates patience and understanding on the part of the Judge 24 CACJ New Judges Orientation

155/189 Don’t burn treatment in court! Use information from staffing wisely and with nuance. -Limit direct quotes from treatment -Always respect confidentiality -Be aware that court can be traumatic for some participants, don’t retraumatize by mishandling sensitive information -Be careful not to “out” clients regarding sensitive matters 25 Court Interaction Videos 26 CACJ New Judges Orientation

156/189 JEB: Connell 27 JEB: Walt 28 CACJ New Judges Orientation

157/189 BKF: Sidney 29 JEB: Clarence 30 CACJ New Judges Orientation

158/189 JEB: Lisa 31 JEB: Demone 32 CACJ New Judges Orientation

159/189 JEB: Steven M. 33 Results/Outcomes you hope to get? - Clients pay more attention during treatment - Clients are more alert/engaged during court session - Deeper, more meaningful conversations with the judge - Cost savings, reduction in recidivism 34 CACJ New Judges Orientation

160/189 35 36 CACJ New Judges Orientation

161/189 CACJ AND CJCC 2017 STUDY CONCLUDED: -ECONOMIC BENEFIT OF $22,000.00 PER GRADUATE -APPROPRIATIONS COST TO PROSECUTE AND DEFEND A PROGRAM PARTICIPANT IS $4,841.00 ANNUALLY WHILE COST TO INCARCERATE A DEFENDANT IS $20,075.00 ANNUALLY -REDUCES RECIDIVISM RATES -FOR PARTICIPANTS FROM 50% TO 38% -FOR GRADUATES TO 15% NATIONALLY 2017 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY 37 Are there any Questions? 38 CACJ New Judges Orientation

162/189 Contact Information: Chief Judge Eddie Barker, Josh Nation, Clinical Director of the Douglas County State Court Douglas County Accountability Courts Phone: 770-920-7413 Phone: 678-763-5860 Email: [email protected] Email: [email protected] 39 CACJ New Judges Orientation

163/189 CERTIFICATION, PEER REVIEW & DATA COLLECTION HOW IT ALL WORKS TOGETHER TO CREATE AN EFFECTIVE PROGRAM Josh Becker Assistant Director, CACJ Rachel Meyer Data & Research Program Manager, CACJ 1 AGENDA  Welcome and Introductions  Georgia Standards 2  Certification  Peer Review  Data Collection  Collaboration  Q&A CACJ New Judges Orientation

164/189 UPDATED 2022 GEORGIA ACCOUNTABILITY COURT STANDARDS 3 GEORGIA ACCOUNTABILITY COURT STANDARDS Adult Felony Adult Mental Veterans Drug Courts Health Treatment Courts Courts DUI Courts Family Juvenile Drug Treatment Courts Courts *Currently no standards for Juvenile Mental Health Courts* 4 CACJ New Judges Orientation

165/189 GEORGIA ACCOUNTABILITY COURT STANDARDS  Statutorily required for state funded accountability courts  Developed and adopted by CACJ - Georgia judges  Based on national research and best practices  Can improve court operations and outcomes  Can keep you and your team out of trouble! 5 WHAT IS IT AND WHY DO CERTIFICATION WE DO IT? 6 CACJ New Judges Orientation

166/189 CERTIFICATION OVERVIEW  Required by statute to receive state funding  Adult Drug and Mental Health Courts,Veterans Treatment Courts, DUI Courts, and Family Treatment Court  Improve court functioning and outcomes  Based on state standards and best practices developed from national research  Application  Designed to follow the Georgia Standards for Accountability Courts  Requirements  Prescribe what your court should be doing to meet the associated standard  Documentation  You should be able to show that your court meets the requirement or is working towards it  Policy manual, participant handbook, memorandum of understanding, sample forms 7 CERTIFICATION OVERVIEW, CONT’D  CACJ Rules require courts to meet all mandatory requirements in order to earn full certification  Programs that receive a provisional certification are given the opportunity to address the committee’s recommendations and resubmit for full consideration  Provisional Certification, 3 – 6 months  Full Certification, 2 years  Waiver for new programs, 6 months 8 CACJ New Judges Orientation

167/189 IS IT JUST AN AUDIT? PEER REVIEW 9 PEER REVIEW OVERVIEW  Similar to certification…  Required by statute (every 3 years)  Improves court processes and participant outcomes  Implemented in place of centralized audit/state reviews  Colleagues and subject matter experts 10 CACJ New Judges Orientation

168/189 PEER REVIEW OVERVIEW, CONT’D  Two-day site visit, virtual or in-person  Observe staffing  Observe court hearings  Interview team members  Participant focus group  Exit interview  Peer team  Judge, coordinator, treatment representative from similar court 11 PEER REVIEW PROCESS  CACJ staff will reach out to coordinators to begin scheduling site visit  Some flexibility – but these must get done  Mostly business as usual on site, however, peers are taking two full days away from court  Site completes cover page, schedule, and best practices survey  Survey results guide interviews  Get help, if needed 12 CACJ New Judges Orientation

169/189 PEER REVIEW REPORT  CACJ staff and peer team complete report over next several weeks  Send draft to site for review – provide feedback  Once finalized, report is yours to keep  Blended learning plan and recommendation review plan 13 WHAT DO WE COLLECT DATA COLLECTION AND WHY? 14 CACJ New Judges Orientation

170/189 STATUTORILY MANDATED DATA POINTS Moderate and Drug test Positive drug high-risk results test results participants Employment Graduates Terminations data Recidivism 15 REQUIRED DATA TO BE ENTERED  For all referrals/participants  For participants accepted into the program  Court-type specific 16 CACJ New Judges Orientation

171/189 DUAL PURPOSES WHY DO WE COLLECT DATA? 17 PROGRAM PURPOSE  Case flow  Participant progress  Staffing  Sanction and termination hearings  Monitoring  Self-evaluation 18 CACJ New Judges Orientation

172/189 STATE PURPOSE  Research  Funding  Politics  Resources  Sustainability  Law/statute 19 3 MAIN REASONS So we can track what our So we can see if what So we can improve participants are doing and respond we are doing is working what we’re doing appropriately (and timely) to their behavior 20 CACJ New Judges Orientation

173/189 HOW DOES IT ALL WORK CERTIFICATION, PEER TOGETHER? REVIEW, & DATA COLLECTION 21 COLLABORATIVE  All based on standards and best practices  Standards define certification requirements  Peer review allows for certification requirements and standards to be explored and technical assistance to be provided  Data are collected on participant demographics, services and treatment provided, monitoring (i.e., drug testing) and can be used for analysis  Data-driven decision making based on what is and what is not working 22 CACJ New Judges Orientation

174/189 CASE STUDY USING DATA TO OPTIMIZE PROGRAM OUTCOMES 23  Monitoring and evaluation measure the achievement of program goals and gauge effectiveness  8.2 Participant data shall be monitored and analyzed on a regular basis (as set forth in a formal schedule) to determine the effectiveness of the program.  8.5 Feedback from participant surveys, review of participant data, and findings from evaluations should be used to make any necessary modifications to program operations, procedures, and practices.  8.8 Courts shall collect, at a minimum, a mandatory set of performance measures determined by the Council of Accountability Court Judges which shall be provided quarterly to the Standards and Certification Committee. Key Component 8 24 CACJ New Judges Orientation

175/189 KEY COMPONENT ELIGIBLE #3: PARTICIPANTS ARE IDENTIFIED EARLY AND PROMPTLY PLACED IN THE DRUG COURT PROGRAM. 25  Georgia Drug Court Standards:  3.6 Participants being considered for a drug court shall be promptly advised about the program, including the requirements, scope, and potential benefits and effects on their case.  3.7 Participants should begin treatment as soon as possible; preferably, no more than 30 days should pass between a participant being determined eligible for the program and commencement of treatment services.  Certification Application:  Adopted Standards Benchmark 3.5  Members of the drug court team and other designated court or criminal justice officials shall screen cases for eligibility and identify potential drug court participants.  Certification Requirement 3.5  Detail the average length of time from the date the person is arrested until they are enrolled into the program.  1. Less than 30 days □  2. Greater than 30 days □  If greater than 30 days, ensure an explanation of process and procedure is attached. 26 CACJ New Judges Orientation

176/189 THE BENEFIT? CASE  Identify bottlenecks in arrest to FLOW ANALYSIS program entry timeline  Most common finding in peer review  Good for stakeholder education  Team effort 27 PARTICIPANT & HOW DO WE PROGRAM KNOW WHAT’S PERFORMANCE WORKING? MEASURES 28 CACJ New Judges Orientation

177/189 What percentage of participants attend treatment SHORT- consistently? What is the average number of treatment TERM sessions attended/missed per week? PROGRESS What percentage of participants attend case management sessions consistently? What is the average number of case management sessions that have been missed? Is that number different for different case managers? What percentage of participants attend peer support meetings consistently? What meetings are attended most frequently? What is your program’s negative drug test rate? How does that vary across phase? 29 MID- TO LONG-TERM PROGRESS What percent of participants are employed or in school? What percent of participants have safe and sober housing? What percent of participants drop out/are terminated in Phase 1, or 2, or…X? Do average risk and need scores decrease over time? What is your graduation/commencement rate? 30 CACJ New Judges Orientation

178/189 CONNECTION TO ARE WE FOLLOWING CERTIFICATION, PEER BEST PRACTICES AND STANDARDS? REVIEW 31 KEY COMPONENT #4: DRUG COURTS PROVIDE ACCESS TO A CONTINUUM OF ALCOHOL, DRUG, AND OTHER TREATMENT AND REHABILITATION SERVICES Georgia Drug Court Standards:  1.12 Participants should have contact with case management personnel (drug court staff or treatment representative) at least once per week during the first twelve months of treatment to review status of treatment and progress.  Phase  Case management session date 32 CACJ New Judges Orientation

179/189 KEY COMPONENT #5: ABSTINENCE IS MONITORED BY FREQUENT ALCOHOL AND OTHER DRUG TESTING Georgia Drug Court Standards:  5.1 Participants shall be administered a randomized drug test a minimum of  5.5 twice per week until the final phase of the program. A standardized system of drug testing shall continue until completion of the program.  Phase  Drug test date Drug screens should be analyzed as soon as practicable. Results of all drug tests should be available to the court and action should be taken as soon as practicable, ideally within 48 hours of receiving the results.  Drug test date  Drug test result  If positive, Sanction date 33 WHERE DO I GO FOR OVERVIEW OF HELP? RESOURCES 34 CACJ New Judges Orientation

180/189 DATA DICTIONARY  Includes all data points and list values  Provides data definitions  Outlines conditions of requirements DATA COLLECTION  Provides practical guidance TOOLKIT  Links to sample templates, workflow guides, and best practices lists 35 QUARTERLY PROGRAM REPORT 36 CACJ New Judges Orientation

181/189 Digital Program-specific QUARTERLY Online archive PROGRAM REPORT Timely data analyses and summaries OVERVIEW Resource and tool 37 Program and • Total participants submitted, active participant participants reported at end of quarter, demographics gender, age, race, education, income, employment, military services, accepted cases by referral type, exit status QPR: INCLUDED ELEMENTS Additional • RPH, risk level, ASAM scores, diagnoses, elements treatment, drugs of choice, drug test methods and results, phase distribution 38 CACJ New Judges Orientation

182/189 SUMMARY  Certification is the process by which CACJ ensures programs are following standards and best practices  Requirements must be met to achieve full certification  Peer review allows for certification requirements and standards to be explored and technical assistance to be provided  Summary report provides recommendations for improvement  Data collection captures participant demographics and program monitoring for analysis and resource identification  All three allow programs to make informed decisions based on research and local needs  Result is effective, research-based, and data-driven programs 39 QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS 40 CACJ New Judges Orientation

183/189 CONTACT US! Rachel Meyer Data & Research Program Manager Council of Accountability Court Judges Mobile: 470-591-0091 [email protected] Josh Becker Assistant Director Council of Accountability Court Judges Mobile: 470-249-2819 [email protected] 41 CACJ New Judges Orientation

184/189 Thank you for attending the CACJ New Judges Orientation Training for 2023. Please help CACJ by completing this training survey below by scanning the QR code. The survey will close August 18, 2023. Reimbursements Reimbursements for this training event (mileage & non-provided meals) will be processed by CACJ according to the following: • Superior Court Judges can submit a reimbursement request to the Council of Superior Court Judges. • State, Juvenile, and Magistrate Judges will receive forms from CACJ to start the reimbursement process. • Senior Judges can submit a reimbursement request to the Council of Superior Court Judges. Continuing Education Hours The following continuing education hours are approved for this training. • CLE and CJE Hours are approved, an ICJE representative will be onsite with the forms. Certificates of Attendance Attendee certificates of attendance will be available by August 31, 2023. You will receive a post-training email from Christina Frazier, CACJ Operations and Communications Coordinator. Coordinators are asked to retain a copy for certification records. CACJ New Judges Orientation

185/189 Speaker Biographies Dr. Kevin Baldwin is a clinical psychologist with a dual emphasis on research and forensics. He serves as Senior Researcher for Applied Research Services in Atlanta, Georgia, providing criminal jus�ce research and policy analysis na�onally. He has directed federally funded research projects, authored over a dozen ar�cles in peer-reviewed journals, and has both designed and evaluated substance abuse treatment programs. Dr. Baldwin authored the U.S. DOJ SMART Office’s publica�on en�tled “Sex Offender Risk Assessment” (www.smart.gov/SOMAPI/sec1/ch6_risk.html.) He is also Director of Forensic Services at the Highland Ins�tute, an Atlanta outpa�ent clinic specializing in the assessment and treatment of persons with sexual behavior problems. He performs forensic examina�ons for state and federal courts and proba�on/parole authori�es, serves as an expert witness in both juvenile and adult courts (state and federal), and has worked in both inpa�ent and community-based mental health se�ngs. Dr. Baldwin is a frequent presenter at regional and na�onal conferences and has provided training and technical assistance to treatment and court staff in a variety of se�ngs. He has also served as faculty at the Na�onal Judicial College and the Na�onal Drug Court Ins�tute. Dr. Baldwin earned his Ph.D. at Georgia State University a�er comple�ng an adult forensic internship at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill School of Medicine and the Federal Bureau of Prisons. Chief Judge Eddie Barker is the Chief Judge of the Douglas County State Court. Judge Barker took the bench in 2010 a�er a career that included 3 years of private prac�ce and 18 years as an assistant district atorney. Judge Barker started a DUI Court in 2013. In 2015, the DUI court became the DUI/DRUG court and was expanded to include other drug and substance related offenses and par�cipants were placed into one of two treatment tracks based upon their risks/needs assessment. The program now includes 3 separate treatment tracks for higher, moderate and lower risk offenders. Judge Barker is a graduate of Georgia State University College of Law and a 1983 graduate of Mercer University. Judge Barker is a member of the CACJ Funding and Legisla�ve commitees. Josh Becker is the Assistant Director for the Council of Accountability Court Judges in Georgia. He is primarily tasked with the development, implementa�on, and monitoring of the cer�fica�on and peer review processes for Georgia’s accountability courts. He also serves as staff to the Council’s various commitees and provides support and technical assistance to the state’s accountability courts. His previous work includes research at the Administra�ve Office of the Courts and in the public health field. Josh received his undergraduate degree from the University of Georgia and holds a Master of Public Policy from Georgia State University. CACJ New Judges Orientation

186/189 Tracy “T.J.” BeMent is the District Court Administrator for the 10th Judicial Administra�ve District of Georgia. He was previously the Court Administrator for the Athens-Clarke County Courts. T.J. received his undergraduate and graduate degrees from the George Washington University in Washington, DC and is currently pursuing a doctorate in Public Administra�on from Valdosta State University. He is also a Fellow of the Ins�tute for Court Management. Mr. BeMent is ac�ve in professional organiza�ons at both the state and na�onal level. T.J. is a past president of the Georgia Council of Court Administrators and the former President-Elect of the Na�onal Associa�on for Court Management. Judge Jason J. Deal has served as a Superior Court Judge for the Northeastern Judicial Circuit since June 2005. He is the presiding judge of the Hall County Drug Court and the Dawson County Treatment Court. Previously Deal served as the District Atorney for the Northeastern Judicial Circuit, Magistrate Judge of the Hall County Magistrate Court, Assistant District Atorney for the Northeastern Judicial Circuit, County Atorney for Dawson County, and as an associate with the law firm of Thompson, Fox, Chandler, Homans, Hicks & McKennon. Deal received his law degree from the University of Georgia and his bachelor's of science degree from Furman University. He is a veteran of the U.S. Army. Judge Deal served as the first chairman of the Georgia Council of Accountability Court Judges and sat on the Georgia Criminal Jus�ce Reform Commitee. He is also the former chairman of the Edmonson Telford Center for Children. He is ac�ve with the Council of Superior Court Judges serving on several commitees and is a recipient of the Emory Findley Award. Chief Judge Kathlene F. Gosselin Kathy Gosselin was born in Chicago, Illinois and graduated from Southern Illinois University, as well as the University of Chicago Law School. She first came to Georgia in 1980 and prac�ced law in Gainesville from 1981 un�l 1987, at which �me she was elected to the Hall County State Court. She presided in State Court from 1987 un�l 1998, when she was appointed by then Governor Zell Miller to the Superior Court of Hall and Dawson Coun�es. She con�nues to run unopposed since her first elec�on in 1986. Judge Gosselin has served on both the Council of State Court Judges and the Council of Superior Court Judges as their President. Addi�onally, she has served on a number of commitees concerning the advancement of the administra�on of jus�ce namely, the Governor’s Commission on Family Violence, Georgia Supreme Court Alterna�ve Dispute Resolu�on Commission, and the Georgia Supreme Court Professionalism Commitee. Judge Gosselin also previously served as the Chair of the Council of Superior Court Judges’ Uniform Rules and Legisla�ve Commitees. In addi�on to overseeing civil and criminal maters in the courtroom, her current responsibili�es are Chief Judge of the Northeastern Judicial Circuit, Chair of the Council of Accountability Court Judges’ Funding Commitee, Training Commitee, as well as serving on CACJ New Judges Orientation

187/189 the Execu�ve Commitee of the CACJ. Judge Gosselin presides over the Northeastern Judicial Circuit HELP/Mental Health Court (since 2004) and felony Veteran’s Court (since 2014). Taylor Jones is the Execu�ve Director for the Council of Accountability Court Judges (CACJ), and an expert on all types of accountability courts for the State of Georgia. Specifically, she establishes and maintains partnerships with court officials, program personnel, stakeholders, and external state and federal agencies to enhance the administra�on and opera�on of accountability courts. As Execu�ve Director, she is responsible for the planning and implemen�ng of processes, prac�ces and priori�es of the Council, and all fiscal needs and supervision of related personnel. As of July 2023, Georgia has established 186 cer�fied and/or state funded accountability court programs and tracks. Ms. Jones, along with a team of twelve professionals, serve as staff to CACJ’s Execu�ve Commitee and standing commitees. This is in addi�on to Ms. Jones serving as the statewide accountability court coordinator of Georgia. CACJ has the mission to provide a unified framework that promotes and improves the quality, accessibility, and administra�on of accountability courts. Prior to working as the Execu�ve Director for CACJ, Taylor worked as a project manager at FivePoint Solu�ons, the specialty courts director for the Piedmont Judicial Circuit, and a superior court proba�on officer for Athens-Clarke County, Georgia. Ms. Jones has worked with Georgia’s accountability courts in mul�ple capaci�es since 2009. Taylor has a bachelor’s degree in sociology/poli�cal science from Piedmont College, and a master’s degree in public administra�on from Columbus State University. She also earned a master cer�ficate of court administra�on issued by Georgia’s Council of Court Administrators and a cer�ficate of judicial administra�on from Michigan State University. Further, Taylor completed Georgia’s Peace Officer Standard Training (POST) in 2010. Aison Lerner serves as General Counsel for Georgia’s Council of Accountability Court Judges (CACJ). She was previously a Senior Staff Atorney with the Judicial Council/Administra�ve Office of the Courts, where she provided legal support to CACJ as well as to the Georgia Supreme Court’s Commission on Dispute Resolu�on, Commission on Interpreters, and the Board of Court Repor�ng. She began her career as a public defender in the Stone Mountain, Alcovy, and Piedmont Circuits, where she served as the public defender assigned to the Piedmont Drug Court and Mental Health Court for several years. Ms. Lerner holds a bachelor’s degree in economics from Wesleyan University, Connec�cut, and a J.D. from the University of Georgia School of Law. Judge Currie Mingledorff was born and raised in Athens, Georgia. A�er high school, he served as a missionary in Japan for two years. Upon his return home, he con�nued his studies at the CACJ New Judges Orientation

188/189 University of Georgia and graduated with a Degree in Economics (1984), a Cer�ficate in Global Policy Studies (1984), and a Law Degree (1987). He and his young family moved to Winder, Georgia where he spent the next 22 years engaged in the general prac�ce of law. During that �me, he was ac�ve in numerous civic and church ac�vi�es. Those ac�vi�es include serving as a Charter Member of the Board of Directors and later as President of the Barrow County Children’s Advocacy Center, now known as “The Tree House.” In 2008, Judge Mingledorff was elected to fill the seat of a re�ring Superior Court Judge in the three-county Piedmont Judicial Circuit. As a general jurisdic�on judge, Judge Mingledorff presides over criminal and civil cases. He also presided over the crea�on of the Circuit’s first Felony Drug and Mental Health Courts. These courts have since produced over 250 graduates and have been designated model courts in Georgia for the years 2020-2024. Joshua Na�on is a \"Double Dawg\" having earned his BBA and MSW from the University of Georgia and is a cer�fied addic�on counselor through the Georgia Addic�on Counselors Associa�on. Mr. Na�on owns Ascension Counseling & Mental Health LLC, a substance abuse treatment agency specializing in accountability court services and Advancing Jus�ce Solu�ons LLC, a consul�ng firm that specializes in developing criminal jus�ce innova�ons. Mr. Na�on is currently the Clinical Director of the Douglas County Accountability Court programs which include: the Douglas County DUI/DRUG Court, Douglas County Adult Felony Drug Court, Douglas County Hope Court, Douglas County Veterans Court, and the Douglas County Opioid Court. Rachel Meyer serves as the Data and Research Program Manager for the Council of Accountability Court Judges of Georgia. In this role, Ms. Meyer oversees the statewide data collec�on efforts of 186 accountability courts. She liaises between state and local agencies to ensure data integrity for the support of various research projects, including economic impact studies and recidivism and cost savings analyses. In addi�on to statewide efforts, Ms. Meyer assists courts with data collec�on best prac�ces and how to make data-driven decisions to impact par�cipant behavior and for program improvements. In addi�on to her work with CACJ, Ms. Meyer is a part-�me instructor at Georgia State University where she teaches undergraduate classes in the Criminal Jus�ce and Criminology Department, including courses on community correc�ons and accountability courts. Tara Zellous LPC, NCC, CADCII, CPCS, MATS is the Treatment Services Manager for the Council of Accountability Court Judges (CACJ). In her current role, she is charged with providing leadership, management, and administra�ve support to develop and guide the expansion of treatment services to Georgia’s accountability courts. Prior to her current role, Tara served as a Treatment Fidelity Program Monitor and the Statewide Medica�on Assisted Treatment Coordinator for CACJ. Before joining the Council, she worked for Georgia’s Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabili�es (DBHDD) as a Behavioral Health Treatment Court Liaison. Her posi�on with DBHDD also involved statewide programma�c management CACJ New Judges Orientation

189/189 of the Forensic Peer Mentor program and serving as a key developer of Georgia’s innova�ve Family Reunifica�on Program. Tara began her work with accountability courts in 2016, serving as lead intake counselor for the Ocmulgee Judicial Circuit Substance Abuse and Mental Health courts. As a licensed professional counselor, Tara has prac�ced in various clinical se�ngs including community service boards (CSBs), behavioral health hospitals, residen�al treatment, and her own private prac�ce. Tara serves as a board member for the Georgia School of Addic�on Studies (GSAS) and the Metro Atlanta Reentry Coali�on (MARC). CACJ New Judges Orientation