Collaborative Justice

California Celebrates National Drug Court Month

May was national drug court month—a time to celebrate the positive impact of drug courts. Drug courts have grown tremendously since the first drug court was established in 1989. Nationally there are 1,700 such courts and California now has more than 170 drug courts in nearly all of California's 58 counties.

The theme of drug court month for 2006 was "Successful Partnering for Recovery," which recognizes that the collaborative efforts among judicial officers, probation, law enforcement, and treatment providers are essential to the success of drug court programs. Additionally, the determination of drug offenders to achieve recovery by utilizing the resources available in drug court must be commended. Together, the hard work of both drug court professionals and participants has resulted in rehabilitation of individuals; stronger, healthier communities, crime reduction, and government savings.

California's drug court professionals observed Drug Court Month by coordinating a variety of ceremonies and activities during the month of May. Graduations throughout California recognized the significant achievements of successful drug court participants. Ceremonies brought together judges, prosecutors, public defenders, law enforcement, treatment professionals, public officials, community members, graduates (past and present), and their families.

Commissioner Robert Padia congratulates a successful participant of the drug court program at Riverside Dependency Family Preservation Court. (5/5/06)

Drug court month was also recognized at the statewide conference of the California Association of Drug Court Professionals (CADCP) held in Sacramento April 25-26th. This brought 360 drug professionals together from around the state to network, share successes, and discuss new directions. There were five plenary sessions including prominent speakers Dr. Alex Stalcup, Medical Director of New Leaf Treatment Center; Dr. Pablo Stewart, Psychiatric Consultant, Haight-Ashbury Free Clinic; and Greg Berman, Director of Center for Court Innovation. Workshops in the areas of dependency drug courts, DUI drug courts, and homeless courts were also offered. Other highlights included presentations by Carson Fox, National Association of Drug Court Professionals (NADCP) fellow; West Huddleston, Director of National Drug Court Institute (NDCI); and Dr. Doug Marlowe, Director of Treatment Research Institute (TRI). This year's conference was one of the largest and the best received to date.

Dr. Pablo Stewart, Psychiatric Consultant, Haight-Ashbury Free clinic lectures about Co-occurring Disorders in a plenary session at the statewide conference of California Association of Drug Court Professionals (CADCP). (4/25/06)

The National Association of Drug Court Professionals (NADCP) will host their 12th annual conference June 21-24 in Seattle, WA. They expect 2,400 attendees this year. National partners, members, and scholars will gather to suggest ways to enhance drug courts. Workshop topics will include dependency drug courts, Drug Endangered Children, the expansion of DUI courts, the emergence of federal drug courts, and the imperative of cultural proficiency. Attendees will also hear testimonials from graduates who are the living proof of drug court efficacy. The AOC's collaborative justice project will present findings from the drug court cost study; distribute the new judicial education curriculum funded by the State Justice Institute; and provide exhibits highlighting new Office of Traffic Safety funded initiatives in DUI prevention in youth courts as part of the conference.

To recognize Drug Court Month efforts statewide, NADCP has also put together a contest to recognize the state that best capture's the theme "Successful Partnering for Recovery." CADCP has created a project to showcase the collaborative efforts in California drug courts. They are creating a map of California in which business cards are arranged in each jurisdiction, illustrating all of the various partners involved in making drug courts successful in changing participants' lives. They have also compiled a notebook to demonstrate local efforts on behalf of National Drug Court Month which includes graduations, newspaper articles, and proclamations.