[Tribal-drug-courts] Entry Process Question

[Eric Mehnert]

Good Morning-

We have the individual assessed by IHS prior to entry into the Healing to Wellness Court.  There is a new assessment tool that we are looking to use called the GAIN SS.  We heard about it through Rod Robinson at the BIA.

At Penobscot If an individual comes to Wellness through the criminal justice system they are first screened by the team which contains members from behavioral health.  If they are given preliminary approval by the team they are then sent to IHS for assessment. Based on IHS assessment they are recommended for admission.  They then enter a guilty plea and the Court defers sentencing (deferred disposition).  If they complete the program they can withdraw their guilty plea and the Court will dismiss the charges against them.

If your Court is looking for something different then the IHS assessment I would urge you to contact Rod Robinson.  The GAIN assessment has, as I understand, 3 levels of complexity.  The first level can be administered by a non-clinical person and takes 10-15 minutes.

I am a huge fan of Wellness Courts.  I have seen first hand how they change lives and are cost effective.


Hon. Eric M. Mehnert
Chief Judge
Penobscot Nation Tribal Court
12 Wabanaki Way
Indian Island, Me.  04468
(207) 817-7329

> On Mar 7, 2016, at 8:35 AM, Lauren van Schilfgaarde <Lauren at tlpi.org> wrote:
> 
> Good Morning Everyone,
>  
> Our court is still in the planning stages getting up and running and we are working on the entry process of a participant and when the Team meets to approve or deny their entry into Wellness Court.  Our Circuit Court Judge would like to have the team meet prior to sentencing to see if that person is going to be admitted to the program or not but if it is prior to sentencing then probation and parole are not able to get their assessment done. 
>  
> Could you please let me know how your courts handle this process?  I am looking for some input to bring back to the team.  Thanks.
>  
> Valerie Loduha
> Wellness Court Coordinator
> Forest County Potawatomi Tribal Court
> 5416 Everybody’s Rd
> PO Box 340
> Crandon, WI 54520
> Phone: (715) 478-7405
> Fax: (715) 478-5805
>  
>  
>  
> This is a transmission from the Forest County Potawatomi Tribal Court and may contain privileged and/or confidential information.  If you are not the intended receipient, you are prohibited from the disclosure, copying, distribution or use of the contents of this message.  If you have received this transmission in error, please destroy it and notify the sender immediately by telephoning 715-478-7255.
>  
> 
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