Travis County Commissioners Court
May 3, 2005
Item 3
3. Approve proclamation designating the month of may 2005 as "national drug court month" in Travis County. Should I read the proclamation?
>> yes.
>> it reads: whereas drug courts provide the focus and leadership for community-wide anti-drug systems bringing together public safety professionals, treatment and education and community partners in the fight against drug abuse and criminality, whereas drug court programs combine intensive judicial supervision, mandatory substance abuse treatment, drug testing, escalating sanctions and incentives in order to break the cycle of drug addiction and its crime; whereas the drug court movement has grown from 12 original drug courts in 1993 to 1,621 operational drug courts as of December 2004, and the Travis County drug court was created in August, 1993, as one of the original courts in the nation to help with the rising tide of drug related cases in the court and to provide discipline and assistance to help drug abusers kick their destructive habits and keep jail space open for criminals that need to be incarcerated; whereas the Travis County drug court in conjunction with the short program, assistance for healthy options for release in transition, has program objectives which include reducing the number of drug related cases in the district court docket, on the docket, by diverting drug using offenders to treatment, providing alternatives to imprisonment by working with experts to ensure that diversion and treatment are accessible, culturally relevant, and effective for all populations of the community and reducing the frequency of rearrest for drug possession and use by providing a broad array of justice, treatment and support services, which will reduce crime and help create a stronger community. And whereas it is appropriate that we recognize the Travis County drug court and the national drug court movement for its efforts in providing a comprehensive and effective alternative to drug addiction and for giving program participant an opportunity to make the kinds of behavior choices that lead to a life free of drug addiction and crime. Now, therefore, be it proclaimed that we the Travis County Commissioners court do hereby kegs nate the month of -- designate the month of may, 2005 as national drug court month in Travis County and urge all county residents to join us in saluting the many practitioners and participants who make drug courts work and the significant contributions that drug courts have made and continue to make in reducing recidivism rates for drug related offenses, reducing costs of taxpayers and successfully rehabilitating substance abusers. This proclamation was easier to write than to read. [laughter] move approval.
>> second.
>> good morning.
>> good morning.
>> good morning. I’m deborah hill with criminal courts. I wanted to thank you on behalf of the district judges, who are here represented by judge wil flowers, judge joel bennett our drug court judge, all of the drug court staff standing here behind me, I want you to know that we still have people at the office. We have a skeleton crew back there. Yes, we do. We are very proud to have the largest drug court in Texas and the -- I feel like one of the strongest reasons for that is that we have had the continued support of you, the Commissioners court, over the years. The drug court program, as you mentioned, judge, has been in existence since 1993. Over the -- over the years since then we have successfully graduated and I’m talking about the staff here, over 1,000 participants and not only graduated, but changed and significantly impacted their lives. The program is very successful. I believe based on the collaborative efforts of the d.a.'s office, the judges, we have judge bennett who has been a very strong figure in the drug court providing leadership and guidance, both to participants and to the staff; we work very closely with a.p.d., community churches as well as community volunteers. And I couldn't say enough about how wonderful the staff is and I didn't -- I don't want to leave them out, last but not least, they provide continual dedicated support, caring, commitment to the -- to the participants in our programs on a daily basis. And with that, we will -- I would like to introduce you first to sharon caldwell hernandez, who was our drug court manager, and at this point I wanted to turn it over very briefly to charles dawlings, one of our counselors who wanted to talk to you about one of the cases that he has successfully worked with.
>> thank you. I was asked to talk about this case because I feel like it's a -- it's a good example of the difference that the program can has for our clients. When this young man came to us about an 18-year-old young man, he was in the program, he continued to -- to use drugs, we know that because of the ua's that we give that were positive and the one that's he just didn't show up for. And so on like this. Also the fact that at a certain point he also had another arrest for a misdemeanor. And in addition to that, in the intake process, we became aware that he had dual diagnosis issues, so hements had some mental health issues as well as drug abuse going on. And -- and so created a very complicated picture for him. Ultimately, he wound up going through three treatment programs, the last of which was the smart program which -- which is a county program. And when he came out of the smart program, that was really the turning point for him. Since he's been back with us, being supervised by the drug court, he -- it's just been a completely different picture for him. He's -- he's healthy today. He's probably gained 25 pounds and I think that he's grown an inch or two. You know? So he looks a lot bigger now than he did then. He's become very goal directed. He's gotten his g.e.d. While he's been in the program and is currently enrolled in a welding class at a.c.c. So he's moving forward with his life. Most important, he acts appropriate for his age. When I met this young man, he seemed like a brain damaged 12-year-old. He would sulk in his seat. I talked to his mother I think the first month that he was my client, way more than I ever talked to him because he couldn't talk. He was so impaired by his chemical use. And since he's been clean, he's able to stay on meds and it's just been a night and day turn around for this young man. So I’m very proud of him for the work that he's done in our program to change his life. And he will be graduating may 9th.
>> okay.
>> in my opinion want to say anything else?
>> I will add one thing. [indiscernible] to the Commissioners court for being willing to experiment with something that at one time appeared to be new and different and your continued support for the drug court program. I think deborah, bennett and judge grisard who is with us who substitutes when judge bennett is not available has a scheduling conflict. And again thanks to the staff for all of your work. You make it a success.
>> yeah, this is a -- this is very difficult work.
>> it is.
>> and in '93 I guess it was a pilot program and we wished it well. Hoped that it would change lives and looks like it has. A thousand people are a whole lot of folk. I remember one year I went to the national drug court conference and was very impressed, attorney general reno was the speaker there, people from around the country, some really coming to listen to the drug court program thinking about implementing it, others were farther of the effort -- were part of the effort already like Travis County. It was good to share ideas, we kind of with watched the drug court program grow here in Travis County and in the state of Texas. At one point he had, what, one or two. Now it must be many, many more. But -- the state is providing a little funding now, right?
>> yes. Travis County significantly more, I think. But we -- we appreciate your hard work. Keep on doing good.
>> thank you very much.
>> thank you. [ applause ]
>> I think what makes it successful, too, are the judges. Essential judge bennett -- certainly judge bennett, I have gone over and watched him conduct the court and it takes tough love to get people back on track and get them to listen to the kinds of things that they need to do, choices that they need to make. And so that they can make the necessary changes. Thank you, judge. Thank you very much.
>> key component of this program when we started it.
>> yes, it is.
>> thanks again.
>> thank you all. All in favor? That passes by unanimous vote.
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Last Modified:
Wednesday, May 4, 2005 10:33 AM