{"id":3240,"date":"2014-05-29T11:56:19","date_gmt":"2014-05-29T17:56:19","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/scramsystems.com\/blog\/?p=3240"},"modified":"2021-08-26T11:52:44","modified_gmt":"2021-08-26T17:52:44","slug":"alcohol-prevalent-topic-nadcps-25th-annual-training-conference","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.scramsystems.com\/blog\/2014\/05\/alcohol-prevalent-topic-nadcps-25th-annual-training-conference\/","title":{"rendered":"Alcohol is Prevalent Topic at NADCP\u2019s 25th Annual Training Conference"},"content":{"rendered":"

SCRAM Systems is spending the week at the National Association of Drug Court Professionals 25th<\/sup> Annual Training Conference, <\/a>where many of the country\u2019s leaders in addiction and therapeutic criminal justice are sharing their expertise. In this special series we\u2019ll be sharing some of the highlights of what we\u2019re learning this week.<\/i><\/p>\n

Yesterday, the Honorable Christine Carpenter, from the 13th<\/sup> Judicial Circuit in Columbia, Missouri, and Meghan Wheeler, a senior consultant with the National Drug Court Institute, gave a comprehensive presentation on the best practices for reinforcing client successes via appropriate sanctions and rewards.<\/p>\n

With a focus on how to build in appropriate sanctions when clients violate court orders, their tips included:<\/p>\n

\"nadcp<\/p>\n

Identify specific goals for each phase of your program. <\/b>Include both short- and long-term outcomes, with the short-term goals focused on the long-term objectives.<\/p>\n

Make sanctions predictable and controllable. <\/b>They suggested a written manual for participants AND court staff, clearly outlining expectations and sanctions when they violate the conditions of their program. It mitigates a client\u2019s feeling that the court is \u201cout to get them,\u201d and in general, people do better when expectations are clearly defined. This document also provides court staff with a roadmap for applying clear and consistent sanctions, taking the guesswork away when issues arise.<\/p>\n

Balance sanctions with incentives. <\/b>Research has shown that with addicted clients, punishment alone doesn\u2019t change behavior\u2014the changes in client behavior end when the punishment ends. Instead, Carpenter and Wheeler emphasized the importance of \u201ccatching clients doing the right things,\u201d including rewards to reinforce positive behavior. Clients who are recognized when they do well are more likely to repeat positive behaviors.<\/p>\n

Assessment. <\/b>Addiction is a spectrum disease, and different sanctions and rewards work with different levels of addictions. Assessing and understanding where each client falls on the spectrum provides a clearer path for addressing their needs.<\/p>\n

For more information on appropriate sanctions and incentives, visit the National Drug Court Resource Center.<\/a><\/p>\n