On June 29, at a unique ceremony held at RISE23, the world’s premier conference on addiction, mental health, and justice reform, Cook County Circuit Court Judge Charles Burns was inducted into the Stanley Goldstein Treatment Court Hall of Fame, making him a national honor.
This internationally recognized conference focuses on addiction, mental health, and justice reform. The Stanley Goldstein Treatment Court Hall of Fame is an internationally prestigious award offered by All Rise.
Judge Charles Burns Offers Insights Concerning the RAP Program
Judge Charles Burns provides an alternative sentencing program for people who have committed non-violent drug-related offenses through his renowned (W) RAP program. The two-year felony drug treatment program called (W)RAP offers access to treatment as an alternative to receiving a prison sentence. Supporting people in their recovery from drug and/or alcohol addiction is the aim of this program. It aims to provide support, assistance, and accountability to assist people in getting back to quality social life after being sober and transformed.
The (W) RAP involves two distinct programs—a men’s program and a women’s program—that are both identically designed but provide services tailored to the participant’s gender to best suit their needs. During the program, participants attend regular self-help support groups, appear in court, complete substance abuse treatment, and undergo frequent drug and alcohol screenings. They also receive any additional treatment or counseling that the (W) RAP team recommends.
To help all the participants find and secure short-term and long-term housing, as well as to furnish recently acquired housing, the program has built community partnerships. It also provides career job and financial credit assistance, mental health counseling, and trauma-informed treatment. The participant’s probation is satisfactorily ended, their cases are dropped, and their convictions are erased upon program graduation.
Following the event, Judge Charles Burns took part in a panel discussion emphasizing the special and cutting-edge methods his program uses to assist treatment court participants in finding housing. Judge Burns was joined on the panel by Johnny Washington, a recipient of a housing voucher, Melissa Fitzgerald, the director of strategic engagement at All Rise, and Sarah Kaufman, the assistant state’s attorney for Cook County.
About All Rise
The premier membership, advocacy, and training group for improving the way the legal system treats people with mental health and drug use disorders is called All Rise. All Rise works with public health officials to improve treatment outcomes for people involved in the judicial system at every stage, from initial contact with law enforcement to corrections and reentry. All Rise was established in 1994 under the name National Association of Drug Court Professionals (NADCP), and for almost thirty years, it has led the charge in reforming the judicial system.
All Rise advocates for federal and state funding works with public and private entities and offers training and technical assistance at the local and national levels through its four divisions: the Treatment Court Institute, Impaired Driving Solutions, Justice for Vets, and the Centre for Advancing Justice. All Rise operates in all of the United States’ states and territories as well as other nations.