HomeMy WebLinkAboutProclamation in Support of Establishing May 2009 as Drug Court MonthORANGE COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS
Proclamation
In Support of Establishing
"Drug Court Month"
WHEREAS, for the past twenty years Drug Courts have been restoring lives, reuniting
families and making communities across this nation safer; and
WHEREAS, Drug Courts provide focus and leadership for community-wide partnerships,
bringing together .public safety and public health professionals in the fight against drug
abuse and criminality; and
WHEREAS, 60 to 80 percent of drug offenders sentenced to prison and over 40 percent
sentenced to probation recidivate, while fewer than 17 percent of Drug Court graduates
recidivate; and
WHEREAS, results of more than 100 program evaluations and at least four meta-analytic
studies have yielded definitive evidence that Drug Courts are demonstratively effective
and significantly improve substance-abuse treatment outcomes, substantially reduce drug
abuse and crime, and do so at less expense than any other justice strategy; and
WHEREAS, over 25,000 judges, prosecutors, defense attorneys, substance abuse and
rehabilitation professionals, law enforcement and community supervision personnel,
researchers and educators, national and community leaders, and others dedicated to Drug
Courts and similar types of treatment programs are healing families and communities
across the country; and
WHEREAS, the Drug Court movement has grown from the 12 original Drug Courts in
1994 to 2,301 operational Drug Courts and 3,410 problem solving courts as of December
2008; and
WHEREAS, Wednesday, May 4, 2009 marks a Judicial District 1 SB Commencement
Ceremony for Adult and Family Drug Treatment Courts, which will celebrate the
promise of recovery and restored hope to 7 graduates and their families; and
WHEREAS, Friday, May 29, 2009 marks the Fourth Annual Uniry Day, which will
celebrate the promise of recovery, promote community collaboration, and educate the
community on addiction;
NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Orange County Board of
Commissioners hereby declares that "Drug Court Month" be established for the month of
May 2009, recognizing the practitioners and participants who make drug courts work and
the significant contributions that Drug Courts have made and continue to make in
reducing drug usage and crime.
This the 21S` day of April 2009.
Valerie Foushee, ha r
Orange County Board of Commissioners