Sessions

Vape pens are sweeping the country, but what is actually inside those vape pens? There are vapes that work for nicotine, flavored oils without nicotine, marijuana and even synthetics. Marijuana concentrates (including Delta 8 and 10) and vape pens are the perfect marriage.  Concentrates come in oil, wax or crystal form, and the current version of vape pens can work for all three.  The baseline when dealing with vape pens is there are NO ABSOLUTES. Electric devices vaporize a liquid form of nicotine.  Many forms of nicotine are found in vape shops, convenience stores, gas stations, grocery outlets, and even alcohol outlets depending on the state.  Many of the pens you see that are being used for nicotine look similar to some of the pens in the drug world and vice/versa. Over the last few years, vape pens for drug use have become SUPER popular.  They can be colorful, small and very discrete, with the latter being a large selling point to these various pens.

Participants will be able to:

1. Identify a vaping device
2. Describe how vaping devices are used for drugs
3. Identify safety hazards associated with vaping devices
4. Understand the discretion associated with vaping devices
5. Understand why users prefer vaping devices

This simulation allows participants to role play a character who has recently been placed on probation. This simulation involves various tables set up around the room with different resources to help the participants navigate life. The participants are challenged by having their character attempt to accomplish the requirements and conditions of probation with tasks such as reporting to Court or the Probation Office, or obtaining services from various resources in the community such as social services, church or treatment. This simulation is split up into four weeks with each week lasting 8-15 minutes in length. Participants will utilize play money to navigate their responsibilities and may even face the consequence of going to jail. This simulation is a "walk a mile in their shoes" opportunity and is one of a kind. Participants will experience first hand what it is like to be placed on probation.

Learning Outcome #1

Be able to relate to a person on probation

Learning Outcome #2
Gain a better understanding of the challenges of probation

Learning Outcome #3
Improve problem solving skills

In 2019, over a million drivers were arrested for driving under the influence and over 10,000 people lost their lives as a result of alcohol related traffic crashes. While these cases make up a huge percentage of criminal court dockets, research shows that convictions and incarceration do not change criminal behaviors or reduce the likelihood of new offenses from high-risk impaired drivers. In fact, after jail or prison incarceration, the majority of high-risk impaired drivers return to their communities, and without appropriate intervention, are a significant risk to reoffend. 

Through the expertise of the Director of National Center for DWI Courts and the American Probation and Parole Association Probation Fellow, this interactive presentation will provide an overview and continuum of the most recent evidence-based practices in addressing the challenges of assessing, sentencing, and supervising high risk impaired drivers. This includes research on the use of assessment tools to determine risk and needs as well as behavioral characteristics of high- risk impaired drivers. Participants will learn best practices in community supervision strategies, available alcohol countermeasure technologies, issues surrounding poly-substance abuse and the use of DWI Courts to reduce risk to the community.

• Participants will identify three alcohol technology countermeasures and research-based practices that courts should be using to reduce the possibility of re-offense by high-risk impaired drivers

• Participants will identify how the Impaired Driver Assessment can impact sentencing and community supervision strategies

• Participants will identify how DUI Courts can effectively reduce recidivism for high-risk impaired drivers

This session will review the MOST up to date, current alcohol and drug trends, including recent findings from national community scans. This session will include these topics: alcohol and drug concealment methods and containers, drug paraphernalia, logos, synthetic drugs, over-the-counter drugs, inhalants, and popular convenience store/gas station drugs. This session will also cover common stash compartments that can be used to hide drugs or other paraphernalia. Certain items have gained popularity in the alcohol and drug scene - which changes every day.