THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA

HOUSE RESOLUTION

INTRODUCED BY WALKO, CALTAGIRONE, COHEN, BELFANTI, BEYER, BRENNAN, DEASY, DiGIROLAMO, DONATUCCI, FLECK, FRANKEL, GINGRICH, GROVE, HARKINS, HELM, JOSEPHS, KORTZ, KOTIK, KULA, MAHONEY, MANDERINO, MARSICO, MATZIE, McGEEHAN, MELIO, MUSTIO, OBERLANDER, M. O'BRIEN, O'NEILL, QUINN, READSHAW, ROSS, SANTONI, SCAVELLO, SIPTROTH, SOLOBAY, SONNEY, SWANGER, TRUE, WATERS, WHITE, PALLONE, DALLY, GRUCELA, RAPP, PYLE, HESS, MILLER, MAJOR, VULAKOVICH, HENNESSEY, D. COSTA, KILLION, DELOZIER AND PHILLIPS, MAY 26, 2009

INTRODUCED AS NONCONTROVERSIAL RESOLUTION UNDER RULE 35, MAY 26, 2009  

A RESOLUTION

Proclaiming May 2009 as "National Drug Treatment Court Month" in

Pennsylvania.

WHEREAS, Drug treatment courts provide the focus and

leadership for communitywide, antidrug systems, bringing

together criminal justice, treatment, education and other

community partners in the fight against drug abuse and

criminality; and

WHEREAS, Drug treatment court programs combine intensive

judicial supervision, mandatory substance abuse treatment and

drug testing, escalating sanctions and incentives and offender

accountability in order to break the cycle of drug addiction,

reduce recidivism and promote public safety; and

WHEREAS, The judges, prosecutors, defense attorneys,

treatment professionals, law enforcement and corrections

personnel, researchers and educators, national and community

leaders and others dedicated to the movement have had a profound

impact through hard work and commitment to their communities;

and

WHEREAS, The drug treatment court movement has grown

nationwide from 12 courts in 1994 to more than 2,200 drug courts

that are in operation or in the planning stages; and

WHEREAS, The House of Representatives supports the monumental

accomplishments of the Philadelphia Treatment Court, the first

established in this Commonwealth in 1997, and to date, the

Philadelphia Treatment Court has accepted more than 2,800

participants and credits 1,697 individuals with successfully

completing the intensive program; and

WHEREAS, The House of Representatives recognizes that the

Philadelphia Treatment Court has received the national

distinction as a Mentor Court from the United States Department

of Justice, 1 of only 30 mentor courts in the country; and

WHEREAS, The Philadelphia Treatment Court has hosted national

and international dignitaries, judges and court staff; therefore

be it

RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives proclaim May 2009

as "National Drug Treatment Court Month" in Pennsylvania

recognizing the practitioners and participants who make drug

treatment courts work and the significant contributions that

drug treatment courts have made and continue to make in reducing

drug usage and crime.