Under category 1A of the FY23 comprehensive opioid, stimulant, and substance use site-based program, the new york state unified court systems new york county supreme court, criminal term (NYCSC), in…

Under category 1A of the FY23 comprehensive opioid, stimulant, and substance use site-based program, the new york state unified court systems new york county supreme court, criminal term (NYCSC), in partnership with the CENTER for justice innovation (CENTER), requests $1,600,000 over three years to reduce the use and misuse of opioids, stimulants, and other substances and improve access to and engagement in treatment by integrating peer recovery services into and enhancing the capacity of the manhattan felony alternative to incarceration court (ATI court) through the manhattan ATI substance use treatment enhancement project. The ATI court, focused on people charged with felonies in manhattan, serves more than 350 people each year, offering alternatives to incarceration for all types of felony cases, including violent offenses. The ATI court provides individualized clinical assessments; treatment plans tailored to participant needs; and rigorous monitoring of engagement in services. This first-of-its-kind all-purpose ATI court provides a model for efforts nationwide to reduce incarceration, enhance public safety, and decrease recidivism for felony defendants. Nearly 60% of ATI court participants struggle with substance use; 20% have substance use needs, are homeless, and are incarcerated when referred. To better serve participants, particularly those using opioids and at high risk of overdose, the ATI court will add peer specialists with lived experience of recovery and justice-involvement to its clinical team. This initiative will 1) embed social workers and peers at the third intercept of the sequential intercept model (approx. 34% of budget); 2) increase the use and quality of alternative to incarceration services (approx. 18% of budget); 3) engage participants leaving jail in evidence based treatments, such as medication-assisted treatment and harm reduction (approx. 13% of budget); and 4) use naloxone to reverse overdoses (approx. 4% of budget). (approx. 6% of budget will support other required costs.) there are no active bureau of justice assistance grants in this jurisdiction with activities known to be related to this application. If funded, NYCSC will provide a sub-award to the CENTER to employ two peer specialists, a senior social worker, and a court resource coordinator. Research partner mdrc, proposed sub-recipient of the CENTER, will evaluate the model (approx. 25% of budget), particularly its impact on long-term wellness among participants with substance use disorder and justice system outcomes among all participants.