WHAT: Drug Court Commencement Ceremony and Cookout

WHEN: Wednesday, September 21, 2016, 11:30AM

WHERE: North Michigan Park Recreation Center 1333 Emerson Street, NE – Washington, DC 20017

WHO: Chief Judge Lee Satterfield, DC Superior Court Presiding Judge Gregory Jackson, Superior Court Drug Intervention Program Cliff Keenan, Director, Pretrial Services Agency for the District of Columbia Mayor Muriel Bowser Robert White, DC Councilmember Interim Police Chief Peter Newsham, MPD

Drug Court is designed to achieve a reduction in recidivism and substance abuse among nonviolent substance-abusing defendants. The program also strives to increase the defendant’s likelihood of successful habilitation through early, continuous, and intense judicially-supervised treatment, mandatory periodic drug testing, community supervision, the use of appropriate sanctions, and other rehabilitation services.

Eligible drug-addicted persons may request to be transferred to Drug Court in lieu of traditional criminal justice system case processing. Drug Courts keep individuals in treatment while supervising them closely. While in Drug Court, participants are

• tested for drug use;
• provided with intensive treatment and other services they require to get and stay clean and sober; 
• held accountable by the Drug Court judge to meet their obligations to the court, society, themselves and their families;
• required to appear in court frequently so that the judge may review their progress; and
• rewarded for doing well or sanctioned when they do not live up to their obligations.

NOTE: Judges will be available for interviews.

Participants may be photographed or interviewed with their permission.

Please coordinate with on-site Court or Pretrial Services Agency staff for assistance identifying participants.