 Drug Courts in Florida Celebrate 20-Year Anniversary
Chief Justice Peggy A. Quince addressed Florida’s newest drug court graduates at the 10th Annual Statewide Drug Court Graduation. This was the 20th anniversary of drug courts ceremony. The event took place May 15 in Miami, Florida, where the first drug court was born in 1989.
In addition to Chief Justice Quince, speakers included retired General Barry McCaffrey, former director of the National Office of Drug Control Policy; Bill Janes, director of the Florida Office of Drug Control; Judge Gisele Pollack, Chair of the Florida Association of Drug Court Professionals; and West Huddleston, CEO of the National Association of Drug Court Professionals. Retired Judge Jeffrey Rosinek and Circuit Judge Deborah White-Labora presided over the graduation.
There were 265 statewide drug court participants who graduated from drug court programs in Escambia, Okaloosa, Leon, Marion, Baker, Sarasota, Manatee, Hillsborough, Bay, Palm Beach, Monroe, Broward, Brevard and Miami-Dade Counties. Most of the participating jurisdictions hosted their own graduation ceremonies simultaneously (available through a live Webcast). The 10th Annual Statewide Graduation is part of Florida’s celebration of National Drug Court Month and May 15th was National Drug Court Commencement Day.
Since the first drug court in the country was created in Miami 20 years ago, tens of thousands of Floridians have graduated from drug courts statewide.
To watch the National Drug Court Commencement Day video, go to the Eleventh Judicial Circuit of Florida and follow the link in the center of their page.
Go to the Florida Courts Drug Court Program pages for more information.
Story and photo credit, Aaron Gerson, Senior Court Analyst II. |
