The Northeastern Judicial Circuit celebrated milestone anniversaries for several of their accountability court programs earlier this month.
Hall County Drug Court, the circuit's first accountability court, marked 20 years in operation while Dawson County Treatment Court and Hall County Family Treatment Court celebrated 15 years and Hall County Parental Accountability Court celebrated 10 years.
The joint celebration event brought together founding and current team members, program graduates, and community partners.
Judge Jason Deal, who oversees Drug Court, is loves to see people come into the program, take advantage of it and come our on the other side as better people.
"I think that's one of the most amazing things about Drug Court is you never know who is going to be successful," Deal said in an interview on WDUN's Newsroom. "You never know who this program is going to click for. You don't know when the miracle is going to happen."
In the interview, Deal said a big part of his job as a judge is sending people to prison, which means he sees people as their worst. Accountability courts, he said, let judges see another side of people.
"Drug Court's an opportunity to see some people at their best, at very little risk to the community with a great payoff at the end if these people take advantage of the opportunity," Deal said.
Sen. Butch Miller opened the ceremony by presenting the courts with official proclamations outlining numerous accomplishments over the past two decades.
Senior Judge John Girardeau, who founded Hall County Drug Court in 2001, reflected on the progressive approach to criminal justice reform and treatment that the circuit has prescribed to since the initial vision to start the programs twenty years ago.
Senior Judge Cliff Jolliff, who first presided over Hall County Family Treatment Court, also spoke about the groundbreaking work of these programs and the immense effect they have on the community.
Deal and other presiding judges – Kathlene F. Gosselin, Bonnie C. Oliver, Clint G. Bearden, and Alison Toller – also spoke during the ceremony and shared their passion for this work.
Guests at the event viewed a short promotional video outlining the origins of the programs and the many successes including a significant economic impact to local taxpayers of approximately $55 million and testimonials from program graduates.
"The mission of our programs is to disrupt the cycle of criminal offenses whose origins are rooted in substance use or mental health issues, Jessi Emmett, director of Treatment Services, said. "We strive to assist individuals in solving these issues and building productive and fulfilling lives while maintaining personal responsibility and providing a cost-savings to our local communities. From the judges, attorneys, law enforcement, to the treatment staff, it is as honor to work alongside some of the greatest professionals in our fields who all share a passion for making a positive difference.
These programs along with the H.E.L.P. Programs and DUI Court collectively serve between 450-500 participants and fall under the umbrella agency, Treatment Services. Each program offers individual and group therapy, continuous drug testing and judicial oversight with the goal of bringing about a behavioral change that reduces criminal recidivism and provide the tools and resources necessary to address substance abuse and mental health issues.
The accountability courts of the Northeastern Judicial Circuit continue to lead the state and serve as role models to other accountability court programs.
http://accesswdun.com/article/2021/7/1021234/hall-dawson-accountabilty-courts-celebrate-milestone-anniversaries