New York Rural Opioid Court Initiative

The New York State Unified Court System (UCS), in collaboration with the PRA Associates (PRA), and NPC Research (NPC), seeks funding to expand efforts to treat and support individuals at high risk of overdose.  Funds will be used to support rural counties to implement the New York Rural Opioid Court Initiative. Under this proposal, the UCS seeks OJP priority consideration to implement Opioid Courts in eight (8) USDA designated rural counties in Sullivan, Greene, Delaware, Genesee, Cortland, and Columbia, Chenango and Lewis counties. Opioid Courts are pre-plea, court programs that expedite treatment and recovery services for individuals at high risk for overdose. This proposal will implement (1) court-based interventions that prioritize treatment for individuals at high risk of overdose and (2) evidence-based treatment, including MAT, and peer recovery support services.    

CS will work with PRA to coordinate justice and treatment efforts through Sequential Intercept Model planning and the implementation of research-based treatment practices. The UCS will work with PRA to establish an Opioid Court Center of Excellence to provide guidance to the selected counties in applying best practices to address the issues of polysubstance use disorders, mental health, and trauma. UCS proposes to improve court supervision and access to treatment and peers through teleservices. UCS will engage with drug testing laboratories to enhance testing for complex synthetic drugs to target effective supervision, treatment and supportive services. NPC Research will conduct an evaluation of promising practices in these new Opioid Courts based on the BJA and CSAT supported Essential Elements of Opioid Intervention Courts national guidelines. Data for the evaluation and for performance measures under this grant will be collected using New York’s statewide treatment court database, the Universal Case Management System (UCMS), the Division of Criminal Justice Services and the Office of Addiction Services and Supports.