Baltimore City Circuit Court to Honor Drug Court Graduates

(Baltimore, MD — Sept. 19, 2005) The Circuit Court for Baltimore City will host a ceremony for 57 graduates of the court's Drug Treatment Court program at 9 a.m. Friday, Sept. 23, in Room 526 of Courthouse East at 111 N. Calvert St. in Baltimore City. Del. Jill P. Carter will deliver the keynote address to the graduates, who recently completed the drug treatment program and are now drug-free.

"Baltimore City's was the first drug court in the state, and it has been the cornerstone in the drug court movement," said Gray Barton, executive director of the Drug Treatment Court Commission.

Since the Baltimore City Drug Treatment Court was established in 1994, 23 other drug treatment courts have been formed in Maryland. Twelve more are in the planning stages around the state.

Baltimore City's program provides intensive treatment, supervision, and comprehensive judicial monitoring to habitual offenders whose crimes are addiction-driven. The program is a collaboration among the Maryland Judiciary, the Division of Parole and Probation, the State's Attorney's Office, the Office of the Public Defender, the Baltimore City Police Department, the Baltimore City Sheriff's Office, and substance abuse treatment providers.

Drug treatment courts incorporate varying levels of treatment as well as vocational, educational, and life skills training and other services to address issues that contribute to drug abuse and criminal behavior. More than 1,500 defendants have graduated from the Baltimore City Drug Treatment Court.

Members of the media are invited to attend. Please contact the Court Information Office at 410- 260-1488 if you would like to bring a camera or for more information.

# # # # #