Gwinnett County Drug and DUI Court Celebrates “National Drug Court Month” With Graduation Ceremony Congressman Rob Woodall Slated To Deliver Keynote Address LAWRENCEVILLE, Ga., (May 16, 2011) – In celebration of National Drug Court Month, the Gwinnett County Drug and DUI Court Program will hold a graduation ceremony on Friday, May 20 at 7 p.m. at the Gwinnett County Justice and Administration Center. Congressman Rob Woodall, 7th District Representative United States Congress, will deliver the keynote address. This is the court‘s 20th ceremony since it was founded in 2005.  More than 28 men and women are expected to be among this year’s graduates. The ceremony marks their completion of an intensive program of comprehensive drug treatment, close supervision, and full accountability.  National Drug Court Month is coordinated on a national level by the National Association of Drug Court Professionals (NADCP). This year, Drug and DUI Courts throughout the nation are celebrating National Drug Court Month with the theme “Drug Courts: A Proven Budget Solution.” What started in a Florida courtroom 20 years ago has become the nation‘s most successful strategy for dealing with substance abusing offenders. Next month‘s uplifting commencement ceremony is evidence of the tremendous impact the Gwinnett County Treatment Court Programs has had on our community and will send a powerful message that treatment courts are a proven budget solution that saves lives and money.  Like the other 2,500 operational Drug Courts in the United States, the Gwinnett County Drug and DUI Court Program is a judicially-supervised court docket that reduces correctional costs, protects community safety, and improves public welfare. In Drug Courts, seriously drug-addicted individuals remain in treatment for long periods of time while under close supervision. Drug Court participants must meet their obligation to themselves, their families and society. To ensure accountability, they are regularly and randomly tested for drug and alcohol use, required to appear frequently in court for the judge to review their progress, rewarded for doing well and sanctioned for not living up to their obligations. Research continues to show that Drug Courts work better than jail or prison, better than probation and better than treatment alone.  Drug Courts are this nation’s most effective strategy at reducing recidivism among seriously drug addicted, nonviolent offenders with long criminal histories. Nationally, 75 percent of individuals who complete Drug Court are not re-arrested. Drug Courts save up to $13,000 for every individual they serve and return as much as $27 for every $1 invested. “Drug Courts are a proven budget solution and must be expanded,” said NADCP CEO West Huddleston. “This May, all across the nation, thousands of people are graduating Drug Court with a renewed sense of purpose and commitment to serving their community. This is changing the face of our justice system, not only saving lives but saving critical resources.” Mr. Huddleston acknowledged the progress of the last 21 years but stated that more can be done. “Drug Courts save money, cut crime and serve veterans. In order to truly end the cycle of substance abuse and crime, we must put a Drug Court within reach of every eligible American,” Huddleston added.