Conference Agenda - Virtual Live Stream

Archie Griffin Ballroom, Floor 2

Former Judge Linda Davis
Executive Director, Face Addiction Now

Session Description

Drawing from her journey as a prosecutor, judge, parent, and advocate, Linda shares a powerful perspective on addiction, resilience, and purpose. She challenges common misconceptions about substance use disorders, highlights the impact of stigma, and demonstrates how compassion, understanding, and community action can transform lives and create lasting change.

Archie Griffin Ballroom, Floor 2

Judge Alison Hatheway
Hamilton County Court of Common Pleas, General Division 

Gary Yuratovac, Esq.
Central Clinic: Southern Ohio Forensic Evaluation Services Division

Howard Hatfield
Probation Officer, Hamilton County Adult Probation Department

Session Description

Serious criminal cases involving defendants with complex mental health conditions require a comprehensive treatment plan that balances the mental health needs of the defendant with public safety and victims’ rights. Participants will explore initial determination of a defendant’s appropriateness for the Mental Health Court Program, steps in transitioning defendants from jail or hospitalization into the community, while protecting public safety and considering victims’ rights. Through case studies and testimonials from the perspectives of the Judge, Probation Officer and Program Director, this session addresses the challenges of balancing treatment needs and alternatives to incarceration with public safety and victims’ rights.

Learning Objectives

By the end of this session, participants will be able to:

1. Understand how Mental Health Courts identify appropriate participants who have both complex mental health concerns and serious criminal charges.
2. Learn techniques to help participants who are transitioning out of jail or hospitalization after attaining competency.
3. Recognize how to balance treatment needs and alternative sentencing frameworks, with public safety and victims’ rights.

¹Approved for Attorney Professional Conduct Credits

Archie Griffin Ballroom, Floor 2

Dominick DePhilippis, PhD
Consultant

Session Description

Contingency Management (CM) is an evidence-based approach that leverages principles of operant conditioning, i.e., the provision and withholding of incentives, to promote positive change and improve outcomes. This session will examine the core principles of contingency management and their potential application within justice settings. Participants will explore practical lessons from CM that can be adapted to specialized dockets to increase participant engagement, reinforce desired behaviors, support recovery, and strengthen accountability. The session will also address common implementation challenges and strategies for integrating CM principles into existing court practices.

Learning Objectives 

By the end of this session, participants will be able to:

1. Identify the challenges to recovery from stimulant use disorders (StimUD).
2. Distinguish the rationale and methods for Contingency Management (CM).
3. Differentiate CM implementation concerns at the Procedural and Organizational level, including considerations when implementing in justice-settings.
4. Explore common critiques of CM.
5. Describe the evidence supporting the effectiveness of CM in the treatment of StimUD.

¹Approved for Attorney Professional Conduct Credits

²Approved for COB Credit

Archie Griffin Ballroom, Floor 2

James Boleyn
Specialized Dockets Director, Marion Municipal Court

Session Description

This session repositions the specialized treatment court as a strategic convening body that aligns partners, coordinates resources, and strengthens the local system of care, with particular attention to rural and resource-limited jurisdictions.

Learning Objectives

By the end of this session, participants will be able to:

1. Understand how to use the authority, structure, and relationships of the treatment court to build cross-system collaboration.
2. Apply practical frameworks for intentional coalition-building beyond informal coordination.
3. Identify strategies for expanding program capacity and strengthening the community response to behavioral health and justice involvement, particularly in rural settings.

Archie Griffin Ballroom, Floor 2

Dominick DePhilippis, PhD
Consultant

Session Description

Many new specialized dockets participants lack motivation to start recovery. The treatment team can help change that! Motivational Interviewing (MI) is an evidence-based communication approach designed to enhance an individual's motivation and commitment to change. This session will explore how MI can improve participant engagement, strengthen therapeutic alliances, and support long-term behavior change. Participants will examine practical techniques and lessons from MI that can be adapted to specialized dockets to foster participant accountability, reduce resistance, and promote recovery and program success.

Learning Objectives

By the end of this session, participants will be able to:

1. Define the elements of self-efficacy.
2. Differentiate the four components of Motivational Interviewing Spirit.
3. Identify and explain the four in-session therapist behaviors (aka microskills) in Motivational Interviewing (MI).
4. Distinguish between MI and Motivational Enhancement Therapy (MET).
5. Describe the evidence supporting use of MI with justice-involved people

²Approved for COB Credit