Okaloosa County BOCC — September 3, 2013 — 11-13 Drug Court Month proclamation — reading text

PROCLAMATION WHEREAS, drug courts provide the focus and leadership for community-wide, anti-drug systems, bringing together criminal justice, treatment, and other community partners in the fight against drug abuse and criminality; and WHEREAS, drug court programs combine intensive judicial supervision, mandatory substance abuse treatment, and drug testing with escalating sanctions and incentives in order to break the cycle of drug addiction and its concomitant crime, and turn defendants into productive members of our society; and WHEREAS, drug courts not only reclaim lives lost to drug addiction and criminality but save the State of Florida substantial taxpayer dollars by reducing the number of incarcerated defendants; and WHEREAS, the judges, prosecutors, defense attorneys, treatment and rehabilitation professionals, law enforcement and corrections personnel, case managers, and others dedicated to the drug court move- ment have had a profound impact through hard work and commitment to their communities; and WHEREAS, the Okaloosa County Adult Drug Court Program began operation in October, 1993; and WHEREAS, with this year marking the 20th anniversary of the Okaloosa County Adult Drug Court, the Drug Court Graduation and 20 Year Celebration will be held on November 15, 2013. NOW THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, the Board of County Commissioners of Okaloosa County, Florida, does hereby declare the month of November, 2013 as “DRUG COURT MONTH” in Okaloosa County and encourages the recognition of practitioners and participants, who make the drug court programs work, and the significant contributions that drug courts have made, and continue to make, in reducing drug usage and crime. DULY PASSED AND ADOPTED this 5th day of November, 2013. BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS OKALOOSA COUNTY, FLORIDA ATTEST: _________________________________ DON R. AMUNDS CHAIRMAN ___________________________ DON W. HOWARD CLERK OF CIRCUIT COURT