Cognitive Behavioral Services

Court Services provides a number of Evidence-Based Programs that are facilitated by trained staff who receive quarterly continuous quality improvement evaluations.

Moral Recognition Therapy (MRT)

This program is for male and female participants (taught separately) and employs a systematic, cognitive behavioral strategy designed to develop higher states of moral reasoning, decision making, and behavior. This program improves these areas by targeting the conscious thoughts and decisions which are the source of actions. It follows a 12 step layout, called the "Freedom Ladder." Each step is designed to help the participant climb out of their current thought processes and to help them improve their moral reasoning. Participants better themselves and those around them with each step they complete. With these 12 stages, the length of the program depends on how motivated the participant is to complete each stage. Only 1 module can be presented at each class.

This class is held once a week for 2 hours at no cost to the participant. There is a $25 book fee.

Moving On

Moving On is for female participants and is designed to help women who are involved with the criminal justice system. The goal of this program it to assist women in mobilizing and developing personal and social resources to reduce the risk of future criminal behavior. Moving On utilizes relational theory, motivational interviewing and cognitive behavioral intervention. Topics are divided into 6 modules with 5 to 7 sessions per module discussing the following:

  • Listening and Being Heard
  • Building Healthy Relationships
  • Expressing Emotions
  • Making Positive/Supportive Connections
  • Making Healthy Choices
  • Transitions

Classes are held once a week for 2 hours and cover one session of the current module. The total length of the program is 26 weeks, including orientation, and it is partially open ended. 

MRT-DV

This program is for male and female participants (taught separately) that uses a systematic cognitive behavioral treatment strategy designed to develop higher stages of moral reasoning with a focus on the perpetrator of domestic violence. The program uses an educational approach that confronts the batterer's beliefs and behaviors with a special focus on power and control issues. 

The class is 24 modules with class being held once a week for 2 hours. The length of the program depends upon how motivated the participant is to complete each module. The Court may order a fee for this class in diversion cases.

Coping with Anger

Coping with Anger is an MRT based program. It includes a systematic cognitive behavioral treatment strategy designed to develop insight and coping skills for those with anger issues. 

This program has 8 modules delivered over 8 to 16 weeks. The cost of the program is $25 for the workbook and classes are held once a week for two hours.

Cognitive Behavioral Interventions for Sexual Offending (CBI SO)

As the name suggests this curriculum relies on a cognitive behavioral approach to teach participants strategies for avoiding sexual offending and related behaviors. Specifically, the program emphasizes skill building activities to assist with cognitive, social, emotional, and coping skills development. 

This program is designed to be delivered in a closed group format with 3 general phases and 7 modules totaling 51 sessions.