Motivational Interviewing in Legal and Justice Settings, Second Edition

Jill D. Stinson, PhD, is Professor of Psychology at East Tennessee State University (ETSU) and Chair of the ETSU Campus Institutional Review Board. Her primary research and clinical interests include suicidality, trauma, and serious mental illness in persons who have committed violent and sexual offenses; ethical practices in research and clinical care; and evidence-based training for members of law enforcement. Dr. Stinson frequently teaches and trains in the areas of forensic and clinical ethics, suicide in forensic and legal systems, motivational interviewing (MI), sexual and violent offending, serious mental illness, dialectical behavior therapy, and trauma-informed care. She has coauthored books on the causes and treatment of sexual offending and on MI for people with legal involvement, and is editor-in-chief of the journal Sexual Abuse.Michael D. Clark, MSW, is Director of the Center for Strength-Based Strategies, a technical assistance group that provides training and implementation initiatives for motivational interviewing (MI) across North America, as well as in many European and Oceania locations. Mr. Clark and his training group are all members of the Motivational Interviewing Network of Trainers (MINT) and hold MINT Certified Trainer status. The group specializes in MI training-of-trainers for agencies, and has worked in a wide range of clinical, community, legal, justice, and correctional settings. Mr. Clark previously served in the roles of abuse and neglect caseworker and probation officer, as well as serving as Secretariat for an expert panel that composed addiction treatment standards for the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime in Vienna, Austria. His website is www.buildmotivation.com.

“MI has always been ahead of its time, helping move the counseling field forward as it helps people move toward change. With its innovative, timely applications to justice and legal contexts, the second edition of this important book is essential reading.â€--Shadd Maruna, PhD, Head of Sociology, Social Policy, and Criminology, University of Liverpool, United Kingdom“This outstanding book offers realistic, concrete examples of how to apply the core principles of MI in ways that elevate the humanity of behavior change work. Probation officers, police officers, and forensic mental health providers may assume that using MI in legal settings is impossible, yet this book provides a compelling guide to transforming that belief. Stinson and Clark address the complex dual roles inherent in legal system work and offers a roadmap for self-assessment and skillful integration of MI across professional contexts. With realistic, concrete illustrations, the authors demonstrate how MI can be implemented effectively to improve outcomes for clients and staff. The second edition is a valuable contribution that will shape multidisciplinary practice and training in legal settings for years to come.â€--Marina Tolou-Shams, PhD, Kilroy Realty Endowed Professor of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of California, San Francisco“Stinson and Clark have produced a rare kind of professional text: one that makes complex work feel genuinely doable--simple, but never simplified. With clarity, warmth, and real-world precision, they show how MI can hold both care and control, accountability and compassion. The tone is hopeful without being naïve, practical without becoming mechanical, and firmly grounded in what actually helps people change. This is an essential guide for anyone working in legal and justice settings.â€--Ioan Durnescu, PhD, Faculty of Sociology and Social Work, University of Bucharest, Romania“Stinson and Clark skillfully examine how the spirit, style, and strategies of MI intersect with the realities of clients in the justice and legal systems. The authors provide practical guidance for maintaining a respectful and effective professional stance while navigating autonomy within constraints and legal expectations. Grounded in real-world practice, this book is an essential resource for probation officers, correctional professionals, trainers, and anyone working with mandated or nonvoluntary clients.â€--Nathalie Cyr, Senior Training Consultant and Motivational Interviewing Trainer, Department of Justice and Public Safety, Government of New Brunswick, Canada“If you work in or alongside the justice system, this book is your go-to resource for when you’re unsure what to do next--and your roadmap for starting off in the right direction with nearly any client. While case consultations often emphasize risk assessments or diagnostic considerations, this book focuses on the relational and conversational skills that move clients toward change. The second edition belongs in every office and agency serving justice-involved clients or those involved in adjacent systems, such as child welfare. Written in clear, straightforward language, this book is easily accessible to students, interns, and seasoned professionals alike.â€--David S. Prescott, LICSW, Director, Safer Society Foundation Continuing Education Center, Brandon, Vermont-

• Introduction1. What is Motivation?2. The Spirit of Motivational Interviewing3. Want Better Outcomes?: Build Stronger Relationships4. Listening and Interviewing5. Engaging: Connection and Building the Relationship6. Engaging: The Relationship in Practice7. Information and Advice8. Finding Our Focus: Ambivalence and Values9. Focusing: Preparing for Change10. Evoking: When Do We Talk About Change?11. Evoking: How Do We Talk About Change?12. Planning, Commitment, and Maintaining Motivation13. Motivational Interviewing in Practice: New Settings, Unique Applications, and Ethical Considerations14. Motivational Interviewing and Systems Implementation15. Motivational Interviewing and Your Well-Being: What’s in It for Me?16. Renewal, Reconnection, and RelationshipsIndex