RECOGNIZING MAY AS NATIONAL DRUG COURT MONTH

Background: The year of 2019 is the 30th anniversary of treatment courts, the cornerstone of justice reform which has been sweeping the nation. With more than 3,000 treatment courts nationwide, and having served 1.5 million individuals, treatment courts are now recognized as the most successful justice system intervention in our nation’s history. It is appropriate that the members of the Sauk County Board should honor these achievements because treatment courts significantly improve substance use disorder treatment outcomes, substantially reduce addiction and related crimes, and do so at less expense than any other criminal justice strategy. In addition, treatment courts improve education, employment, housing and financial stability, promote family reunification, reduce foster care placements, and increase the rate of addicted mothers delivering babies who are fully drug free. Treatment courts provide hope for communities because they facilitate community-wide partnerships, bringing together public safety and public health by demonstrating that when one person rises out of substance abuse and crime, we all rise. Sauk County has operated an adult treatment court since 2016 with 7 program graduates and is proud to be part of such an effective criminal justice reform which promotes community safety and wellness.