Therapeutic Jurisprudence

By Judge Michael A. Town

As a trial judge since 1979, I have presided over many cases involving adults and youths who made serious mistakes, were charged with criminal offenses, and needed to improve their lives. At key moments in these cases, including detention, sentencing, and review hearings, the judge must listen carefully to testimony about—and try to understand—the choices a defendant has made.

Therapeutic Jurisprudence, "TJ", is an interdisciplinary perspective that focuses on the law's impact on the emotional and psychological health of the participants, mostly the clients. Some people refer to this as viewing law as a healing profession. The goal is to bring sensitivity into law practice and focuses on listening to clients with an awareness of the psychological and emotional issues including stress, confidence, trust.