JUDICIAL

COMING IN FALL, 2024

The operation of public safety could not be complete without our judicial system and those who dedicate themselves to the cause of justice--be it criminal or civil law. Without these professionals, there would be no public safety or civil rest at all.

And yet how often do we consider the impact on their mental health in the course of their service? What complications exist for an elected or appointed judge or attorney battling a mental health crisis or an addiction, who, understandably, wants to preserve anonymity while seeking help? Forensic investigators and court clerks are often also troubled by what they are exposed to.

Minding the Badge™ discovered how great this need is when we were researching and developing curriculum for first responders. As we dug deeper into credible data, we discovered nearly half of criminal and family law judges expressed some symptoms of intrusive trauma. We also found high rates of alcohol use and abuse, as well as prescription drug dependency, in both judges and lawyers.

What we didn't find were many mental health resources to help them with these issues in a way they found comfortable or affordable. Minding the Badge™ is excited to launch services to  help these essential workers in public safety who often slip through the cracks.