Travis County Commssioners Court
April 8, 2003
The Closed Caption log for this Commissioners Court agenda item is provided by Travis County Internet Services. Since this file is derived from the Closed Captions created during live cablecasts, there are occasional spelling and grammatical errors. This Closed Caption log is not an official record the Commissioners Court Meeting and cannot be relied on for official purposes. For official records please contact the County Clerk at (512) 854-4722.
Item 4
Number 4 --
>> [inaudible] proclamation.
>> okay. Is to approve a proclamation designating the month of April 2003 as "national drug court month" in Travis County. And if I could read the proclamation, unless you all brought your own reader?
>> no. Please do.
>> we would love you to be our reader.
>> it reads: whereas drug courts provide the focus and leadership for community-wide anti-drug systems, bringing together criminal justice, treatment, education and community partners in the fight against drug abuse and criminalality, whereas drug court programs combine intensive judicial supervision, mandatory substance abuse treatment, drug testing, escalating sanctions and incentive in order to make break the cycle of drug addiction and related crime, whereas the judges, prosecutors, attorneys and rehabilitation professionals, law enforcement and corrections personnel, researchers and educators and national and community leaders and others dedicated to the drug court movement have had a profound impact through hard work and commitment to their communities, whereas the drug court movement that grown owe has grown from the 12 original drug courts in 1993 to over 1200 drug courts in operation or in the planning stages and the Travis County drug court was created in August of 1993 as one of the original drug courts in the nation, to help cope with the rising tide of drug-related cases in the courts and to provide discipline and as tans to -- assistance to help drug abusers kick their destructive habits and to keep jail space open for criminals that need to be incarcerated. Whereas the Travis County drug court, in conjunction with the Travis County short program, short standing for citizens for healthy options for release and transition has proven objectives which include reducing the number of drug related cases on the district court docket by diverting drug using offenders for treatment providing alternatives to imprisonment and proper backaches by -- probation by effectively working with law enforcement. The district attorney's office and community to maximize retention and achieve high rates of completion, working with experts to ensure that diversion and treatment are accessible, culturally relevant and effective for all portions of the community, 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 -- did my office draft this or y'all? [laughter]
>> yes.
>> whereas -- later -- I thoughts that I would never gets to that -- it is appropriate that we recognize the Travis County drug court and the national drug court movement for efforts in providing a comprehensive and effective alternative to drug addiction and for giving program participants 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 courted do hereby designate the month of April, 2003 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 significant contribution that drug courts have made and continue to make in reducing the recidivism rates for drug-related offenses and helping to create a safer, healthier future for all of our citizens. That said a whole lot, didn't it?
>> very nice.
>> I move approval.
>> second.
>> good morning.
>> good morning. We want to thank you very much for letting us be here today, I’m deborah hale with criminal courts. The district courts have traditionally administered the Travis County drught court which -- drug court which has been in operation since 1993. To my left I have the relatively new manager of the drug court program, rosy, she would like to say a few words.
>> reporter: let me express our gratitude to the Commissioners court and to the judges for supporting our program. We remain on the forefront, cutting edge where drug courts are concerned and Travis County has a large drug court program here in Texas. We are very proud of that. Our staff works very hard. Recently we worked very, very hard on the jail overcrowding to help reduce the population in the jail with rocket docket, working closely with the district attorney's office as well as continuing to work with everyone else who is released and keep people out of the district courts and in drug court. We want to thank you for all of your support.
>> thank you. Any comments?
>> I’m susan gains, I’m counselor with drug court. I would just like to sigh that I think that my -- I feel most fortunate for my position as a counselor versus an administrator because I get to be sort of in the trenches with these clients. It is the most remarkable experience to work with the young men and women and actually watch and help effect a change in their lives with their families and their children. It's an incredible job to have. And I guess that I appreciate your support so that I can continue to come to work every day. I don't feel a lot of fear about the economy because we will never run out of customers. It's just a wonderful position to be in and I appreciate you all a lot.
>> thank you.
>> thank you, unfortunately we have an item today where the sheriff's office, cscd, has run out of state funding, we are having to cut back substance abuse programs in del valle. This is one of those problems that -- that -- that seems to grow rather than going away. But we have to help.
>> but this community has chosen to handle this in a much better way than just warehousing people and not attending to the problems.
>> we appreciate all you do.
>> thank you.
>> thank you very much.
>> all in favor? That passes by unanimous vote.
>> thank you. You have a beautiful proclamation for you to carry with you.
>> thank you.
Last Modified: Wednesday, April 9, 2003 1:25 PM