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When There’s No One to Refer To: Creative Justice in Rural Communities
SESSION INFO
Tuesday, August 18, 2026
11:15 AM - 12:15 PM
Session Type: Workshop
Rural communities often face the greatest challenges in administering justice—yet have the fewest places to turn. When There Is No One to Refer To: Creative Justice in Rural Communities explores how courts and county social services can work together to create effective, human-centered responses even when traditional mental health, substance use, and treatment resources are scarce or nonexistent. This interactive session invites participants to rethink what collaboration can look like. Through guided activities, attendees will map the overlooked strengths in their own communities, identify unconventional partners, and brainstorm solutions that bridge gaps in services. We will discuss shared challenges such as jails without treatment or medical support, responding to crises like suicide risk or food insecurity, and coordinating cross-agency referrals that support individuals during sentencing and after probation. Participants will leave with practical strategies, new collaborative ideas, and a clearer understanding of how to build sustainable, locally tailored solutions.
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SESSION PRESENTERS
Hon. Elizabeth Allen
Judge, Los Alamos County Municipal Court
Elizabeth K. Allen earned her law degree from Pepperdine School of Law and began her legal career as an intern to the Honorable Michael McConnell of the Tenth Circuit Court of Appeals. She has practiced in Idaho and New Mexico as a prosecutor, appellate attorney, and defense counsel. In 2019, she was elected Los Alamos Municipal Judge. Elizabeth is a dedicated educator and presenter, teaching Business Law at UNM–Los Alamos and training judges across New Mexico. She has trained more than 50 new judges and presented at over 20 conferences, focusing on practical skills, judicial decision-making, and community impact. She is the author of the New Mexico Municipal Court bench book and served on the New Mexico Supreme Court Uniform Jury Instructions and Judicial Council.
Jessica Strong
Social Services Manager, Los Alamos County Municipal Court
Jessica Strong is the Director of Los Alamos County Social Services, where she oversees a small team and manages programs supporting residents facing challenges with housing, healthcare access, benefits, and food insecurity. Since joining the County, she has worked to strengthen coordinated care, build community partnerships, and improve service pathways for people with complex needs. Originally from Columbus, Ohio, she earned a Master’s in Public Policy from Carnegie Mellon University. Before coming to Los Alamos, she was Executive Director of the Social Work Hospice and Palliative Care Network, co-founded Flexible, a Pittsburgh start-up providing on-demand childcare, and created a co-working space with onsite childcare. Her background includes extensive work in human services as a trainer, program analyst, grant writer, and consultant in areas such as mental health, substance use, housing, aging, and trauma-informed care.
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