AJR46: Joint Resolution Text

LRB-2429/1

SRM:wlj:jf

2009 - 2010 LEGISLATURE

2009 Assembly JOINT RESOLUTION 46

April 17, 2009 - Introduced by Representatives Hintz, Kaufert, Pasch, Turner, Soletski, Pope-Roberts, Brooks, Parisi, Mason, Roth, Staskunas, Spanbauer, Bies, Townsend and Dexter, cosponsored by Senators Hopper, Taylor, Miller, Plale and Olsen. Referred to Committee on Rules.

AJR46,1,1 Relating to: declaring May 2009 as Drug Court Month.

AJR46,1,4 Whereas, 2009 marks the twentieth anniversary of the Miami-Dade Drug Court, the first drug court in the nation, which sparked a national revolution that changed the face of the American justice system; and

AJR46,1,6 Whereas, for the past 20 years drug courts have been restoring lives, reuniting families, and making communities across this nation safer; and

AJR46,1,9 Whereas, drug courts provide focus and leadership for community-wide partnerships, bringing together public safety and public health professionals in the fight against drug abuse and criminality; and

AJR46,1,12 Whereas, 60 to 80 percent of drug offenders sentenced to prison and over 40 percent sentenced to probation recidivate, whereas less than 17 percent of drug court graduates recidivate; and

AJR46,2,2 Whereas, results of more than 100 program evaluations and at least four metaanalytic studies have yielded definitive evidence that drug courts are demonstratively effective and significantly improve substance-abuse treatment outcomes, substantially reduce drug abuse and crime, and do so at less expense than any other justice strategy; and

AJR46,2,7 Whereas, over 25,000 judges, prosecutors, defense attorneys, substance abuse and rehabilitation professionals, law enforcement and community supervision personnel, researchers and educators, national and community leaders, and others dedicated to drug courts and similar types of treatment programs are healing families and communities across the country; and

AJR46,2,10 Whereas, the drug court movement has grown from the 12 original drug courts in 1994 to 2,301 operational drug courts and 3,410 problem-solving courts as of December 2008; and

AJR46,2,12 Whereas, counties across Wisconsin are starting drug and treatment courts; and

AJR46,2,15 Whereas, Friday, May 15, 2009, marks National Drug Court Commencement Day, which celebrates the promise of recovery and restored hope to drug court graduates and their families; now, therefore, be it

AJR46,2,20 Resolved by the assembly, the senate concurring, That the Wisconsin legislature declares May 2009, as "Drug Court Month," recognizing the practitioners and participants who make drug courts work and the significant contributions that drug courts have made, and continue to make, in reducing drug use and crime in Wisconsin and across our nation.

AJR46,2,21 (End)