Plexiglass dividers are set up throughout a courtroom at the Pima County Superior Court as part of the building's COVID-19 mitigation protocols. April 2021.
Members of Pima County's justice system and treatment services will receive training to identify resources and gaps in the criminal justice system to improve services — especially for people dealing with substance use.
Director of Justice Services Kate Vesely says the training, facilitated by Policy Research Associates, aims to ensure people have access to resources and knowledgeable staff at every point they interact with the justice system.
“Because what you want to avoid is this person doesn't get any support until they're on probation, or only get support while they're going through trial, but then once they take a plea, there's nothing else out there,” she said. “You want to make sure that you've got a system that's accessible to each one of these points.”
This is the county's third round of workshops. Vesely says the current focus is on developing an evidence-based approach to address opioids and related issues.
“We want to take a much more proactive and evidence-based approach in dealing with opioids and all the surrounding issues that come along with that, like homelessness and trying to create better, smarter, more rapid, more effective systems to interrupt that cycle of incarceration and criminal behaviors, not only to help that person get access to treatment, but also to make the community safer,” she said.
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