Harford County District Court Invites
Community to Learn about Drug Court

(BEL AIR, MD — May 15, 2006) Harford County residents will have the opportunity to see the county’s adult drug treatment court in action when the Harford County District Court holds an open house, featuring a live evening court session. The program, which will also include a drug court graduation ceremony and a panel discussion of current and alumni drug court clients, will be held from 5:30 to 7 p.m. on Monday, May 22, in the District Court House Mary Risteau Building.

District Court Judge Angela M. Eaves and Dr. Andrew Bernstein, Harford County health officer, will be among the speakers during the program. The most recent graduates of the drug court will be recognized for recently completing the drug treatment program and becoming drug-free.

Throughout May, the Maryland Judiciary is celebrating National Drug Court Month.

Started in 1997, Harford County’s program provides intensive treatment, supervision, and comprehensive judicial monitoring to habitual offenders whose crimes are addiction-driven. In November 2004, Harford County District Court opened the first of the state’s three pilot Driving Under the Influence (DUI) Drug Courts to deal with the problems posed to the community by repeat DUI offenders.

Since the state’s first drug treatment court was established in Baltimore City in 1994, 27 other drug treatment courts have been formed in Maryland. Eight more are in the planning stages around the state. 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.

The District Court for Harford County is located at 2 S. Bond St. in Bel Air. Members of the media are invited to attend, but no cameras will be permitted. For more information, please contact the Court Information Office at (410) 260-1488.

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