2019 Community-Oriented Defender (COD) Network Conference Click here for the Overall Conference evaluation. Click on the "FEEDBACK SURVEY" button above session descriptions to submit an evaluation form.
The opioid crisis has brought unprecedented attention and resources to the need for substance abuse treatment. Even with a growing recognition that incarceration is an ineffective (and often harmful) response, the criminal justice system continues to serve as a major player in this public health issue, with alternatives to incarceration frequently relying on ongoing court involvement and/or law enforcement interaction -- all of which bring ongoing threats of incarceration. The Maryland Office of the Public Defender is launching projects in four counties (with separate funding from private, federal, and local grants) for defense-based social work services to provide screenings, assessments, and alternative sentencing plans to advocate for release into community-based treatment services. This project will discuss the projects developed, how funding was secured for these services, and status of the projects to date.
