In this episode of Justice Speaks, we continue our series with State Drug Court Coordinators through an interview with Ms. Kaylee Dickenson, the State Drug Court Coordinator for West Virginia. This episode is sponsored by Reconnect.

Ms. Dickenson begins by detailing her early career in corrections at the Southern Regional Jail and Beckley Correction Center, experiences that laid the foundation for her transition into probation—a role that first introduced her to Treatment Courts. In her capacity as a probation officer, she engaged with treatment-focused justice by attending the State Drug Court Conference and managing adult Drug Courts in Greenbrier and Pocahontas counties. Her accomplishments in these counties and her commitment to therapeutic justice led to her promotion as a Treatment Court evaluator, where she oversaw evaluations for Family Treatment Courts and then to State Drug Court Coordinator. In her role, Ms. Dickenson ensures that Treatment Courts across all 55 West Virginia counties adhere to best practice standards, providing tailored feedback and guidance to enhance each court’s impact on participants and the broader community.

A key theme in her discussion is the systematic approach to treatment court coordination in West Virginia. Ms. Dickenson elaborates on her role in organizing the State Treatment Court Conference, a biennial event funded by the Bureau of Justice Assistance that delivers essential training and resources to judges and probation officers statewide. This conference, which is free for attendees, serves as a platform for knowledge sharing on emerging best practices and evidence-based approaches. Working closely with an educational committee, Ms. Dickenson is involved in all aspects of conference planning, ensuring that treatment courts remain informed about the latest advancements in supporting participants.

In this episode of Justice Speaks, we return to the field of Therapeutic Jurisprudence, interviewing Dr. Yasuhiro Maruyama, a distinguished professor of criminal justice at Rissho University in Tokyo.

Dr. Maruyama begins by recounting his early academic interests and his first exposure to Drug Courts in the United States. His initial study of Drug Courts as a young student led him to the U.S., where he observed problem-solving courts firsthand. In the U.S., he formed bonds with notable figures in the field, including JSI Co-Founder Judge Peggy Hora whom he affectionately considers his “American mother.” Her mentorship helped shape his dedication to understanding the application and impact of Therapeutic Jurisprudence globally.

The discussion then shifts to Dr. Maruyama’s areas of focus within Japanese criminology, including the contrasting policies Japan employs toward criminal punishment and support for vulnerable populations. He describes what he calls a “bipolarization” in Japan’s criminal justice system, where harsh penalties coexist with newer rehabilitative measures aimed at helping individuals such as juveniles, the elderly, drug users, and those with developmental disorders. Despite these advancements, Dr. Maruyama notes a significant lack of support for these populations, especially when compared to treatment-oriented approaches in other nations.

Dr. Maruyama also discusses Japan’s unique “lay judge” system, where citizen judges participate alongside professional judges in serious criminal cases. Unlike jury systems in the United States, Japanese lay judges help determine both guilt and sentencing. He notes that Japan’s judicial philosophy emphasizes punishment based solely on past actions, contrasting with the U.S., where preventive detention may be applied. This approach, influenced by historical experiences from World War II, prioritizes punishment only after crimes have occurred, reflecting Japan’s commitment to avoiding preemptive punitive measures.

This episode of Justice Speaks highlights a important initiative by the United States Department of Justice, specifically through the Office of Justice Programs, to reduce crime. In this episode, we interview Judge Karen Friedman (Ret.), Director of Criminal Justice Innovation, Development, and Engagement for the Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA). This episode is sponsored by Reconnect.

Justice Speaks is continuing a series of interviews regarding individuals who are impacting the Justice System, specifically in this case, for those who are under supervision in the form of pretrial services. In this episode we interview Wendy Venvertloh, Executive Director of National Association of Pretrial Services Agencies. This episode is sponsored by Reconnect.

Director Venvertloh begins by sharing her background, which is deeply rooted in community corrections. Originally planning to pursue a PhD in criminal justice, she quickly found her passion working in the field. She reflects on her experiences at the Adams County, Illinois Probation Department, before transitioning to a state-level role in Illinois as the pretrial administrator for the administrative office of the courts. Her involvement in the creation of the Statewide Pretrial Office, and later her appointment as its deputy director, solidified her position as a leader in the field.

She also highlights the history and mission of NAPSA, a national organization with a 51-year legacy of providing education and technical assistance to professionals in pretrial services. Director Venvertloh shares recent milestones for NAPSA, including record-breaking attendance at its annual confe

This episode of "Justice Speaks" continues the series of interviews with individuals who impact the Justice System. In this episode, we interview Janel McFeat, the Executive Director of the Washington Statewide Reentry Council, who has been instrumental in expanding the reentry movement. This episode is sponsored by Reconnect.

This episode of “Justice Speaks” continues the series of interviews with individuals who impact the Justice System by supervising individuals under community supervision in the form of probation or parole. In this episode, we interview Ms. Tamika Nelson, the Chief Probation officer for the San Diego County Probation Department. This episode is sponsored by Reconnect.

This episode of Justice Speaks continues its series of interviews with individuals who are impacting the Justice System. In this episode, we interview Mr. David Rogers, who is the Training Director for the National Native Center of Excellence (NNCOE) about justice issues in tribal courts. This episode is sponsored by Reconnect.

Justice Speaks continues JSI's series of interviews with Justice leaders interviewing Scott Taylor with 45 years in the field of Corrections. He has worked in juvenile and adult institutions, run a Residential Center, served as counselor, Probation& Parole Officer, Supervisor, and as a County and State Director of Probation and Parole in Oregon. He is Past Treasurer and President of the American Probation and Parole Association (APPA).