PRINTER'S NO. 1430
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA
HOUSE RESOLUTION
No.
313
Session of
2015
INTRODUCED BY TOOHIL, ACOSTA, BAKER, BOBACK, V. BROWN, BROWNLEE,
CALTAGIRONE, COHEN, CORBIN, D. COSTA, SCHLEGEL CULVER,
CUTLER, DiGIROLAMO, DONATUCCI, DUSH, GINGRICH, GROVE,
HENNESSEY, M. K. KELLER, KILLION, KINSEY, KIRKLAND, KORTZ,
MARSICO, MILLARD, MURT, O'BRIEN, PICKETT, READSHAW, ROSS,
SCHREIBER, SONNEY, TAYLOR, THOMAS, WATSON, WHEELAND AND
YOUNGBLOOD, MAY 5, 2015
INTRODUCED AS NONCONTROVERSIAL RESOLUTION UNDER RULE 35,
MAY 5, 2015
A RESOLUTION
Recognizing the month of May 2015 as "National Drug Court Month"
in Pennsylvania.
WHEREAS, This year marks the 26th anniversary of the nation's
first drug court; and
WHEREAS, Over the past 26 years drug courts have served over
1.4 million individuals; and
WHEREAS, Drug courts are now recognized as the most
successful criminal justice intervention in our nation's
history; and
WHEREAS, Drug courts can save up to $27 for every $1 invested
and can produce cost savings up to $13,000 for every individual
they serve; and
WHEREAS, Seventy-five percent of individuals who participate
in drug court will never see another pair of handcuffs; and
WHEREAS, Drug courts significantly improve substance abuse
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treatment outcomes, substantially reduce drug abuse and crime
and do so at less expense than any other justice strategy; and
WHEREAS, Drug courts facilitate communitywide partnerships,
bringing together public safety and public health professionals
in the fight against drug abuse and criminality; and
WHEREAS, There are now 2,840 drug courts nationwide; and
WHEREAS, Drug courts are the cornerstone of criminal justice
reform; and
WHEREAS, The extraordinary expansion of drug courts and the
principles and practices utilized over the last 26 years has
resulted in a decline in prison populations after decades of
escalation; and
WHEREAS, Drug courts demonstrate that when one person rises
out of drugs and crime, we all rise; and
WHEREAS, The time has come to put a drug court within reach
of every eligible person in need; therefore be it
RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives recognize the
month of May 2015 as "National Drug Court Month" in Pennsylvania
and further recognize the significant contributions drug courts
have made toward reducing substance abuse, crime and recidivism
while saving valuable resources.
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