By: Patricia Buonodono
Many wonderful events have taken place recently in Georgia’s Accountability Courts. On March 10, 2017, the Douglas County DUI/Drug Court was recognized by the Georgia House of Representatives in Resolution 571. “NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES that the members of this body commend the Douglas County DUI/Drug Court Treatment Program for its many outstanding contributions on behalf of the citizens of Georgia, and extend best wishes for its continued growth, development, and success.”
Graduations took place in April in the following courts: Clayton County DUI Court; Cherokee County DUI/Drug Court; Fulton County Family Treatment Court; Macon-Bibb County Parental Accountability Court; Gwinnett County DUI Court; Hall County HELP Court; Chattahoochee Circuit Parental Accountability Court; and Towaliga Accountability Court.
On May 17, the Athens DUI/Drug Court was recognized as 1 of only 4 Academy Courts in the United States by the National Center for DWI Courts (NCDC) and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration for an unprecedented fourth time. The Athens-Clarke County DUI/Drug Court was selected from over 700 DWI courts nationwide and will serve a term of three years. As an NCDC Academy Court, the Athens-Clarke County DUI/Drug Court will help develop, identify and test national best practices for DWI courts, provide technical assistance and host jurisdictions interested in starting a DWI court. Judge Charles E. Auslander III presides over the ACC DUI/Drug Court, and Lee Rushton is the Court Coordinator. Congratulations to all for your continuing innovative and life-changing work!
May was National Drug Court Month, and the Clayton County Drug Court hosted a picnic for its participants to celebrate. On May 18, 2017, the Pataula Circuit Drug Court, led by Judge Joe Bishop, had their first graduation, with 16 graduates. Other May graduations include: Clayton County Drug Court; Cobb County Veterans Treatment Court; Gwinnett County Drug Court; Hall County Veterans Treatment Court; Hall County Drug Court; Hall County Family Treatment Court; South Enotah Felony Drug Court; Troup County DUI/Drug Court; and Troup County Felony Drug Court.
Several new Accountability Courts have started up across Georgia recently, including the Bartow County Family Treatment Court; Carroll County Family Treatment Court; Chatham County Juvenile Mental Health Court; Cherokee County Veterans Treatment Court; Lookout Mountain Judicial Circuit Drug Court; Muscogee County Family Treatment Court; Newton County Family Treatment Court; Rome Judicial Circuit Drug Court; and Troup County Family Treatment Court.
“Stay strong, keep faith, and you shall survive.” – J.H., Parental Accountability Court Graduate, Walton County, July 2017.
If you want to keep up with what is happening with Georgia’s Accountability Courts, the Council of Accountability Court Judges of Georgia newsletter is the place to go: http://www.gaaccountabilitycourts.org/newsletters.
