Recovery Coaching in a Justice Setting

People who have faced jail time or incarceration have multiple barriers to overcome, so why not provide recovery coaches who can assist in navigating those barriers while providing support in their recovery journey? There is no better setting to serve as recovery coaches. Many coaches know these systems well. The best resources for navigating these systems are people who have used them. This is where our lived experiences will serve us, two-fold. Not only do we get to share what we know, we get to share who we are in recovery. There are four areas in which recovery coaches can serve those who are involved with the justice system:

• Law enforcement: Justice professionals who enforce laws and apprehend violators. This area also includes the programs and efforts designed to prevent criminal activity.
• The court system: Courts prosecute criminal cases and defend against those prosecutions, while protecting witnesses and victims who come forward to participate in court proceedings. The court system is also responsible for analyzing and creating new laws that prohibit or penalize behavior.
• Corrections: Corrections refers to the branch of the justice system that deals with individuals who have been convicted of a crime. The role of the correctional system is to ensure that a sentence is carried out, whether it’s time in jail or prison, probation, or community service.
• Post release: Transition from the release from a corrections facility or jail back to their community/parole/halfway house.