Roger Peters Contributes Expertise for State and National Efforts on Issues of Substance Abuse within the Criminal Justice System

A recognized leader in research, consultation, and training initiatives involving substance abuse treatment within the criminal justice system, FMHI’s Roger Peters has been involved in several important efforts recently supporting the need for improved drug treatment services for individuals involved in the criminal justice system. Peters has contributed to an important statewide initiative, as well as a national awareness effort by the US Department of Health and Human Services.

As a member of the Florida Supreme Court Task Force on Treatment-Based Drug Courts, Dr. Peters contributed to the assembly of a new Tool Kit that provides the latest information on adult felony drug court practices, lessons learned, and evidence-based research. Drug courts place substance abusers entering the court system into treatment programs that are proactively monitored by the judge and a team of justice system and treatment professionals. Florida's Adult Drug Court Tool Kit: Recommended Practices presents Ten Key Components as the Florida Drug Court Standards, which were codified by the legislature in section 397.334, Florida Statutes (2001).

According to the Tool Kit, “recommended practices are presented for each standard with the understanding that drug courts by their very nature are unique and must be adapted to the culture and availability of resources within a given community. Drug court team members should review the practices contained within the Tool Kit and determine to what extent they are already in use in their drug court, and identify those that could be implemented, adjusted, or discontinued. Once this inventory is complete, thought should be given to who might assist in implementing new practices, a time frame for implementation, actions steps to achieve each practice, and a method to measure the success or failure of implementation."

In addition, the Tool Kit provides a resource guide containing a compilation of state statutes, websites, case law, and reference materials to assist drug courts in the planning, implementation, and operational stages. A pdf version can be downloaded here.

Peters (left in picture) also participated in a panel discussion for the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Administration’s (SAMHSA) webcast “Treatment and Recovery: Reducing the Burden on the Justice System and Society.” The discussion is part of SAMHSA's The Road to Recovery 2007 Series, which airs nine Webcasts supporting the 18th annual observance of National Alcohol and Drug Addiction Recovery Month (Recovery Month). Featuring panels of nationwide experts from the field, Dr. Peter's discussion examines the relationship between addiction treatment and recovery and the criminal justice system, and focuses on both the practical and economic benefits to society from treating substance abuse and dependence issues surrounding the criminal justice system. The webcast premiered July 5, 2007 and will be distributed to over 300 public broadcasting, educational, and cable TV stations across the country. It can be viewed at http://ncadi.samhsa.gov/multimedia/webcasts/w.aspx?ID=49.

Peters is also participating as the July expert in The Road to Recovery 2007 Ask the Expert Series, in which visitors can pose questions to an expert in the field through an interactive feature.

Dr. Peters serves as Chair and Professor in the Department of Mental Health Law and Policy at FMHI. He also serves as Coordinator of the FMHI Collaborative on Substance Abuse Treatment and Policy Research.