INTERDISCIPLINARY PARTNERSHIPS
Though Community Corrections and Police agencies are both public safety components of the criminal justice system, the play very different roles and use very different strategies in their attempts to create a safer community. These differing paths can lead to misunderstandings, resentments, and a strained working relationship. However, this does not need to be the case and, in fact, community corrections and police agencies can form significant partnerships that increase the efficacy of both departments. As a parole & probation officer, the founder of Liminal Justice Consulting, Jeremy Hubbard, has a proven track record working with police agencies on a variety of projects, trainings, and of creating partnerships that benefit the community. Liminal Justice can provide:
Increase understanding of the different roles each agency plays in the criminal justice system - An increased understanding of the dynamics & goals of each agency's priorities and role within the criminal system leads to reduce resentments, misunderstandings, and reluctances to work together. Jeremy has experience creating partnerships between police and community corrections that not only bridge the gap between these disciplines but created relationships that valued the unique role each agency.
Interagency Projects - A great way to start a partnership between police and community correction agencies is through a specific project or goal. Jeremy has experience working, leading, and creating partnerships that included nuisance housing responses, wanted persons sweeps, hot spot response, domestic violence coordinated response, and outreach to clients.
Medication Assisted Treatment (MAT) has long been a neglected tool within the Criminal Justice system. So much so that relationships between MAT providers and criminal justice professionals are often strained or adversarial. However, Liminal Justice Consulting's founder, Jeremy Hubbard, has a proven track record creating partnerships and programs with MAT providers with:
Develop Communication Flows - Communication is the bedrock of any effective partnership. Liminal Justice can help create communication protocols that meet the needs of community corrections while still maintaining therapeutic and medical integrity for both the MAT program and clients.
Increase understanding of different - Cross training of staff helps eliminate misunderstandings and resentments. Creating an understanding that each agency walks a different path but everyone is aiming for the same finish line can create a dynamic partnership that leads to out of the box solutions. Liminal Justice can help design and deliver a training program for staff of both agencies to produce a foundation of understanding that will help grow a productive and effective partnership.
Balance between community safety and client health - The balance between the long term outcomes for clients versus the immediate community safety concerns is the everyday struggle for community corrections. This can feel foreign for a medical clinic and amplified for community corrections when working together. However, Liminal Justice can help agencies create protocols, policies, and practices that meet the needs of both agencies while addressing the real balancing act of long term outcomes with immediate public safety concerns.
Increase access to MAT - Creating quicker and smoother referral processes create opportunities to increase access to MAT services without sacrificing program integrity for community corrections or medical clinics. Liminal Justice can help create referral systems that take into account workflow, financial realities, legal considerations, and staff impact while still reducing wait times and other barriers for clients.
Periods of incarceration can be an incredibly difficult time for clients suffering from opiate withdrawals and often are a period of time where clients are open to exploring new solutions to address their problems. In addition, incarceration can be a time of stability creating a perfect opportunity to provide MAT services and create a release plan that addresses a client's specific needs. Liminal Justice founder, Jeremy Hubbard, has experience creating MAT programs in both jail and work centers. These programs included:
Partnerships with local MAT providers - Utilization of local resources creates seamless transition from in custody services to community-based care. Liminal Justice can help create partnerships with local MAT providers that provide services both in-custody and in the community.
Continuum of Care - It is imperative that any MAT program that begins in a custody setting have established protocols, policies, and practices that continue services without interruption after release. Liminal Justice can assist in creating referral, transition, and post-release service protocols that assure clients can continue any services started while in custody.
Utilization of peer mentors - Peer mentors are effective in creating positive relationships with treatment and medical programs. They can help connect clients with services, guide them past obstacles, and provide emotional support during the difficult process of life change. Liminal Justice can provide framework to utilize peer-mentors in an effective, cost-conscience manner.
Behavioral Correctional Programming - In addition, to providing medical intervention in custody, MAT programs can increase their likelihood of positive outcomes through the utilization of a behavior intervention program that targets client's individual specific criminogenic needs. Liminal Justice can provide input, design, and an implementation plan to include correctional programming with your in custody MAT program.
Often the first opportunity for intervention with a person with Opioid Use Disorder is their first contact with police. However, there rarely is any connections between any type of substance abuse treatment providers and first responders, but this is especially true for MAT service providers. Liminal Justice has experience creating unique partnerships and understanding of what is important for first responders and MAT service providers. With this experience, Liminal Justice can assist in establishing relationships that:
Target those Most at Need - A partnership between First Responders and MAT Service Providers could increase access to MAT services at a time when someone is most at need and/or open to receiving intervention; whether these be following an overdose reversal, their first arrest, or any other encounter with a First Responder. For First Responders this type of partnership establishes a connection to someone that can help the immediate need and, hopefully, the long-term need as well. This allows First Responders to clear the call and know that someone will follow up with the person in need. Liminal Justice's understanding of the role of a First Responder and of MAT Service Providers provides a conduit to bridge gaps between agencies and speak a common language.
Aims to Reduce Frequent Calls for Service on the Same Person - Without intervention, First Responders often handle calls for service on the same small group of individuals repeatedly. Creating a connection between those that handle calls for service and agencies that provide services could provide the intervention that reduces repeat calls for service on an individual. Liminal Justice can help create processes and protocols for referrals and follow-ups for those that create frequent First Responder calls for service.
Increase access to MAT - A relationship between First Responders and MAT Service Providers creates an new entry point for MAT services. In addition, this entry into MAT services may come early enough in a person's addiction to divert them from the significant impacts of their addiction. Liminal Justice is committed to finding solutions that reduce the negative impact of addiction while enhancing community safety.
Community Corrections and Substance Abuse have historically had a relationship that was solely one of referral source and provider. This often leaves substantial needs unmet for both sides and the feeling that the relationship is one-sided. The founder of Liminal Justice has significant history working with substance abuse providers creating programs and practices that increase communication, adherence to Evidence Based Practices (EBP), and form strong partnerships that can withstand time and staff changes. Liminal Justice can provide community correction agencies and substance abuse treatment providers with the opportunity for:
Increased Understanding of Individual Roles - An increased understanding of the dynamics & goals of each agency's priorities and role within the criminal system leads to reduced resentments, misunderstandings, and reluctances to work together. Liminal Justice can provide training and facilitation between agencies that increases the understanding and appreciation of each agency's role within the community.
Increased Communication - Two-way communication creates a relationship that increases opportunity for positive outcomes for clients and reduces gaps for clients to fall through. Liminal Justice can help create protocols, policies, and practices that increase communication without being burdensome on staff workload.
Increased Adherence to EBP - Substance abuse treatment providers are often asked to adhere to criminal justice Evidence Based Practices, however, they are given little training or guidance in the tenets of Risk, Needs, Responsivity, and Fidelity. Liminal Justice can provide a full spectrum of trainings and programs to help substance abuse treatment agencies adopt criminal justice EBP.