Problem-Solving Courts Address Issues Underlying Criminal Acts, Says Indiana’s Chief Justice

TheStatehouseFile.com

INDIANAPOLIS—Indiana Supreme Court Chief Justice Loretta Rush told lawmakers Wednesday how problem-solving courts are addressing the underlying problems of drug addictions and mental illnesses that lead to many crimes.

“These courts work because judges get out from behind the bench, convene community partners, and truly connect with those standing before them in desperate need of a new path,” Rush said as she addressed lawmakers in the Indiana House Chamber at her sixth State of the Judiciary Address.

Rush laid out court initiatives aimed at addressing underlying problems of crime, jail overcrowding and access to the court system.

As of 2020, 107 problem-solving courts have been established and Rush plans on setting up more to deal with problems faced by drug addicts, veterans dealing with post-traumatic stress syndrome and other issues. Rush gave a shout-out to some of the problem-solving court graduates and court judges during her address.

Rush said that after co-chairing the National Judicial Opioid Task Force she has made three major discoveries. First, those with an opioid use disorder are 13 times more likely to be involved in the criminal justice system. Second, the justice system is the largest referral source to get someone treatment. Third, the justice system has to take opioid and substance abuse disorders as a chronic, treatable brain disease-not as a moral failure.

“This epidemic in no small part, has caused our jail populations to increase. And it is one more, very pressing reason to examine and reform how we do business in our criminal justice system,” Rush said.

Rush said that the number of people incarcerated has skyrocketed. She said she has no intention of releasing dangerous people into Indiana’s communities, but wants to see the number of people in jail decrease.

“Some people need to be incarcerated,” she said. “More people just need help. A strong justice system must do both.”

Rush did say that Indiana needs to do better representing the more vulnerable Hoosiers in the legal system. She asked that her request for increased legal aid funding be revisited. She mentioned visiting a small claims court where she witnessed 275 eviction cases where none of the defendants had legal representation.

“That is not the model of a legal system where the poor, disadvantaged, and vulnerable are protected,” she said.

Rush also shed light on the fact that last year, for the first time in history, five courts were led by women. She introduced the women as her “sister chiefs.”

House Speaker-Elect Todd Huston, R-Fishers, shared his support for the topics Rush talked about during her address.

“Chief Justice Rush set the right tone today during her address, and we look forward to working with her to ensure we are doing everything we can to support a more fair and efficient court system for all Hoosiers,” he said.

Haley Pritchett is a reporter with TheStatehouseFile.com, a news website powered by Franklin College journalism students.