Mary Woods

One Hour AT A Time

Mary Woods

  • Decriminalizing Mental Illness and Addiction: A Court’s approach to justice.

Decriminalizing Mental Illness and Addiction: A Court’s approach to justice.

Monday 7th July 2008

Discover Judge James H. Leary's compassionate approach to mental health and addiction justice in this 'One Hour AT A Time' episode.
57 minutes
Informative
Hopeful
Empowering
Supportive
Transformative

About this podcast

One Hour AT A Time
Author:
Mary Woods
Overview:
Categories:
Sobriety Toolkit
Innovative Treatments & Recovery Paths
Family Recovery from Addiction
Recovery from Trauma
Creative Recovery Journeys
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Justice with Compassion: Judge Leary's Innovative Approach to Mental Health and Addiction

When the two systems combine in kind of a holistic way, there's really an opportunity to help both people with mental illness and addiction move forward in their lives, and you know that's starting to happen.
Imagine a court system that sees beyond the crime and focuses on the person. That's what Judge James H. Leary brings to the table in this episode of 'One Hour AT A Time'. With a rich background in law, teaching, and social work, Judge Leary has a unique perspective on justice. He’s not just about handing out sentences; he’s about changing lives.
In 2006, he introduced a mental health court program in Nashua, New Hampshire, designed to offer alternatives to traditional sentencing for individuals with mental health and co-occurring disorders. This episode dives into how this program helps break the cycle of repeated court appearances by integrating mental health and addiction treatment systems. Judge Leary shares his experiences working with mental health providers to improve communication between the courts, police, and healthcare professionals.
He also touches on the challenges and successes of dealing with adolescents and juveniles in the justice system. The discussion is a must-listen for anyone interested in how compassionate justice can make a real difference in people's lives.