Albany County Treatment Court to Receive National Honor

The Albany County Court Supervised Treatment Program has been named one of only nine national mentor drug courts by the National Association of Drug Court Professionals and the U.S. Department of Justice. The program will receive an award marking the distinction on February 9, 2017, at 4 p.m., in the Circuit Courtroom at the Albany County Courthouse.

“It is a great honor to recognize this court as one of only nine Mentor Courts in the United States,” said NADCP chief of training and research Carolyn Hardin in a statement. “It is a shining example of how a combination of accountability and compassion can save lives, reunite families, and make the community safer. As a mentor court this program is helping to transform American criminal justice and lead countless people who might otherwise be incarcerated into lives of long-term recovery.”

As a national Mentor Court, the Albany County Court Supervised Treatment Program will help develop, identify and test national best practices and provide technical assistance to jurisdictions interested implementing a drug court, including hosting visitors from around the country. The program will serve as a national Mentor Court for a period of three years.

There are now over 3,000 drug courts nationwide. They are considered the cornerstone of criminal justice reform efforts sweeping the nation.

“We’re honored to be chosen by the NADCP. Our team works hard to serve Albany County by giving our participants an opportunity to put their lives on a healthy track. It’s immensely gratifying to receive national recognition,” said Amy Terrell, Program Coordinator, in a statement.

The NDACP is a non-profit organization representing more than 27,000 multi-disciplinary justice professionals and community leaders, works to create and enhance drug courts and other treatment courts.

The NADCP has helped lead the effort to create over 3,000 drug courts located in all 50 US states and territories.