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Therapeutic Jurisprudence Practice in Courts�

Solution-Focused

Legal actors motivate engagement & behavioral change to improve wellbeing of people & communities / Value dignity, agency & self-determination of participants / Use active listening, dialogue & other evidence-based tools & techniques / Work in a multi-disciplinary way with non-legal supports

Inclusive

Legal actors - Understand & are respectful of First Nations culture / Recognise, respect & support people with lived experience of disability / Understand & are respectful of Diversity

Procedurally Fair

Legal actors – judiciary, lawyers, prosecutors, court staff - give voice to participants, show respect, build trust through an ethic of care, ensure participants understand processes & decisions and try to be helpful

Compassionate

Therapeutic Jurisprudence practice in courts respects the law and due process

and is….

Legal actors - Understand the impacts of trauma /

Practice consistency, trustworthiness, choice, collaboration, empowerment /

Understand ‘difficult’ behaviour as maybe

a coping or self-protection mechanism;

Take a strengths-based approach

A resource of the International Society for TJ www.intltj.com For links to further resources see: www.mainstreamtj.wordpress.com/tj-in-courts/

Person Centred

Programs are designed with the needs and lived experience of participants at the centre. Lawyers support their clients to make their own decisions

Trauma informed

Legal actors endeavour to understand

& alleviate challenges faced by court participants / A compassionate approach also supports the wellbeing of legal actors

Respectful of human rights

Human dignity is upheld through the application of human rights principles

Evolving

TJ is interdisciplinary. TJ practices are drawn from other relevant disciplines. As knowledge evolves in other disciplines it can be translated into new TJ practices.