The Treatment Court Expansion Act: A Bridge to Recovery, Health & Safety

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Our latest episode is brought to you by the City Bar’s Mass Incarceration Task Force. Tess Cohen, Chair of Task Force, discusses the Treatment Court Expansion Act, formerly known as the Treatment Not Jail Act, with guests Jeffrey Berman, a mental health attorney with the Legal Aid Society of Manhattan, and Mark Graham, founder and executive director of the Redemption Center. They explore the legislation’s goal to expand treatment-based alternatives to incarceration for individuals with mental health issues, substance use disorders, and other disabilities. The discussion covers the bill’s potential to reduce recidivism, the role of diversion courts, and the broader societal impact of addressing mental health and substance use issues within the community.

Join the coalition at treatmentnotjail.com and advocate for change in our community.

If you want to learn more about sensible legislative solutions to the treatment of people who are incarcerated in New York, read the Mass Incarceration Task Force’s reports on the Treatment Court Expansion Act and the Communities Not Cages Act and view the City Bar’s Legislative Agenda to learn more about how you can participate in advocacy that supports passage of these proposals in the New York State Legislature.

00:00 Overview of the Treatment Court Expansion Act

00:39 Meet the Experts: Jeffrey Berman and Mark Graham

01:29 Understanding the Legislation

02:39 Existing Criminal Justice Framework and Challenges

05:26 Expanding the Treatment Court System

06:47 The Importance of Removing Guilty Plea Requirements

11:53 Personal Stories and Advocacy

19:12 The Impact of Incarceration on Mental Health

22:12 Public Safety and Mental Health

26:07 The Cost and Benefits of Treatment Courts

28:33 Current Status and Future of the Treatment Courts Expansion Act

30:56 How Listeners Can Help

37:17 Conclusion and Final Thoughts