LIHU‘E — The Kaua‘i Drug Court will host its 21st graduation on May 31 starting at noon. The graduation highlights May as National Drug Court Month, which was announced by the National Association of Drug Court Professionals with a theme of
LIHU‘E — The Kaua‘i Drug Court will host its 21st graduation on May 31 starting at noon.
The graduation highlights May as National Drug Court Month, which was announced by the National Association of Drug Court Professionals with a theme of “Drug Courts: Where Accountability Meets Compassion.”
Kaua‘i Managing Director Gary Heu, representing Mayor Bernard Carvalho Jr., presented a proclamation reinforcing the association of drug court professionals to Joseph Savino, the Kaua‘i Drug Court administrator, and his staff as well as representatives from several community groups involved in drug awareness and prevention programs.
The proclamation congratulates the Kaua‘i Drug Court and the representatives of the drug programs on its dedication and a job well done.
Heu said substance abuse is a major societal problem throughout the country and more than 2,100 drug courts in the United States provide an alternative to incarceration for non-violent, drug-addicted offenders by combining intense judicial supervision, comprehensive substance abuse and mental health treatment, random and frequent drug testing, incentives and sanctions, clinical case management and life skills services.
Numerous individuals provide substance-abusing offenders with the much-needed opportunities at long-term recovery and productive lifestyles. These people include judges, prosecutors, defense attorneys, treatment providers, rehabilitation experts, child advocates, researchers, educators, law enforcement representatives, correctional representatives, pre-trial officers and probation officers.
Research continues to show that drug courts work better than jail or prison, better than probation, and better than treatment alone, states the mayoral proclamation.
Drug courts are this nation’s most effective strategy at reducing recidivism among seriously drug-addicted, nonviolent offenders with long criminal histories.
Nationally, statistics demonstrate 75 percent of individuals who complete drug court are not re-arrested.
Kaua‘i’s Drug Court program provides a great opportunity for systemic social change in the American justice system and a great opportunity to heal families and communities.
• Dennis Fujimoto, photographer and staff writer, can be reached at 245-0453 or dfujimoto@ thegardenisland.com.
