Applying Motivational Interviewing in Criminal Justice Settings and Beyond
Please note: This webinar is not eligible for continuing education (CE) credit due to its informal, conversational format. Participants who attend the full live session will, however, receive a Certificate of Attendance.
This webinar is for treatment providers working in programs that serve justice-involved and mandated adult clients, including inpatient and outpatient treatment settings, community-based programs, and child welfare services. It is also for professionals in criminal justice roles—such as probation, parole, and court services—who collaborate with treatment programs and want to apply Motivational Interviewing effectively with the clients they supervise. Professionals working with older adolescents will also benefit from this discussion.
Since its development in the 1980s, Motivational Interviewing (MI) has become increasingly popular within criminal justice and related settings. Not only has MI proven to be highly effective, but practitioners often describe it as a more rewarding and collaborative approach compared to earlier, more confrontational methods. MI helps clients safely explore their own motivations while building healthier, more self-directed lives.
In this webinar, Dr. Stinson and Mr. Clark explore what practitioners need to know when applying MI in their own settings. Drawing from their second edition of Motivational Interviewing in Legal and Justice Settings—a clear, practical resource for practitioners working with mandated clients in traditional justice settings, child welfare, and both inpatient and outpatient programs—they share insights gained from years of studying and training in MI across North America and abroad.
Dr. Stinson and Mr. Clark discuss topics such as:
- Core elements of MI practice
- Ethical considerations in criminal justice treatment
- Effective ways to learn and master MI skills
- Current research findings on MI outcomes
This webinar provides attendees with new strategies for engaging even the most resistant clients and provide a roadmap for successfully initiating change conversations with nearly any client.
Who's Presenting
Jill D. Stinson, PhD
Dr. Jill D. Stinson is a licensed clinical psychologist and Professor in the Department of Psychology at East Tennessee State University. She holds a dual doctorate in Clinical Psychology and Psychology, Policy, and Law from the University of Arizona. Her research focuses on suicidality and serious mental illness in persons with histories of sexual and violent offending, evidence-based training for law enforcement, research ethics, and motivational interviewing, DBT, and mindfulness for people with legal involvement. Dr. Stinson has authored four books related to etiology and treatment of sexual offending and motivation to engage in therapy. Her newest book, Motivational Interviewing in Legal and Justice Settings, 2nd edition, with Guilford Press, will be available in August 2026.
Michael D. Clark, MSW
Michael D. Clark, MSW, has served as a probation officer and magistrate in Lansing, Michigan. He is a member of the Motivational Interviewing Network of Trainers (MINT) and is the director of the Center for Strength- Based Strategies, a technical assistance group that offers training in Motivational Interviewing to the corrections, addictions, and mental health disciplines. Mr. Clark has recently served as a contractual consultant to the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime in Vienna, Austria, and is coauthor of the book Motivational Interviewing with Offenders: Engagement, Rehabilitation, and Reentry, published in 2017 by Guilford Press.