This interactive in -person three-hour workshop equips criminal justice professionals with the knowledge and practical skills needed to identify, prevent, and respond to unhealthy alcohol and substance use among justice involved individuals. Designed for staff working in corrections, probation, parole, reentry, and related environments, the training blends foundational education with hands-on practice using validated screening tools and evidence-based brief intervention strategies. Participants will build skills in Motivational Interviewing informed communication, learn how to support individuals through behavior change conversations, and explore ways to address system level barriers that can impede access to care. The workshop also focuses on stigma reduction and practical approaches for strengthening referral pathways and continuity of care across the justice system. By the end of the session, justice professionals will leave with increased confidence and actionable skills they can immediately apply within their day to day supervision, case management, or custodial responsibilities.
Learning Outcomes:
- Describe the spectrum, patterns, and consequences of unhealthy alcohol and substance use among justice involved individuals and explain how characteristics of this population shape risk and treatment access.
- Identify and use appropriate screening approaches and tools for correctional and community supervision settings, and communicate results in a manner that supports trust, engagement, and safety.
- Demonstrate foundational Motivational Interviewing informed skills for brief interventions, including techniques for supporting incremental behavior change within justice contexts.
- Identify opportunities to integrate prevention, screening, and intervention strategies into correctional, probation, parole, and reentry workflows to improve outcomes for justice involved individuals.
Continuing Education Units: This training is approved for 3 continuing education (CE) hours by the Peace Officers’ Standards & Training (POST) P2850018 and by the boards listed here.
Presenter: Jennifer Hettema, PhD is a licensed clinical psychologist and conducts research on the development, evaluation, and dissemination of screening, prevention, and intervention strategies (SPI) for unhealthy alcohol and drug use. She is a member of the Motivational Interviewing Network of Trainers and much of her work integrates this approach. Dr. Hettema develops curricula and has trained thousand of professionals in evidence-based SPI strategies.
Funding for this activity was made possible in whole or in part by the Nevada Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) Director’s Office through the Fund for a Resilient Nevada, established in Nevada Revised Statutes 433.712 through 433.744. The opinions, findings, conclusions, and recommendations expressed in our courses are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily represent the official views of the Nevada Opioid Center of Excellence or its funders.