SANTA FE – The first summit tailored for graduates of New Mexico treatment courts will be held on May 15th and 16th beginning at 8 a.m. at the Santa Ana Resort & Casino.
More than 100 New Mexico treatment court graduates from around the state are expected to attend the summit hosted by the Administrative Office of the Courts’ Department for Therapeutic Justice (AOC/DTJ). The two-day engagement is designed to reinforce for graduates how powerful their lived experiences and successes are when supporting their peers and people currently enrolled in treatment courts, provide professional development, and share peer testimonials.
“For almost 30 years, judges, program managers and justice partners have contributed to the growth and effectiveness of New Mexico’s treatment courts,” said New Mexico Supreme Court Chief Justice C. Shannon Bacon. “Yet we all agree, alumni are our biggest treatment court success story. They chose to do the hard work to graduate and hopefully they will continue to help other New Mexicans by being active in treatment court alumni groups throughout the state.”
New Mexico Treatment Courts, also traditionally known as Problem Solving Courts or Drug Courts, are overseen by a multidisciplinary team of professionals who treat justice-involved individuals with substance use and/or mental health conditions. They offer individuals the opportunity to enter long-term substance abuse treatment with court supervision rather than receiving a jail sentence. The intensive program requires participants to maintain recovery and take responsibilities to work towards lifestyle changes.
New Mexico has 59 treatment courts in 12 of the 13 Judicial Districts, serving 28 of 33 counties. New Mexico Treatment Courts include: Adult, Young Adult, Juvenile, Family Dependency, Domestic/Family Violence, Veterans, DWI, Mental/Behavioral Health, and the Urban Native American Healing to Wellness Court.
Anessa Trujillo, a recent graduate of Bernalillo County Metropolitan Court’s Urban Native American Healing to Wellness Court, will speak during the opening ceremony alongside Chief Justice Bacon, Karen Friedman with the Department of Justice, Judge Cristina Jaramillo on behalf of the NM Association of Drug Court Professionals, Rob Mitchell with AOC/DTJ, and Second Judicial District Young Adult Court graduate Andrea Campos. Success stories will be highlighted throughout the summit, culminating with alumni testimonials during the closing ceremony at 10:15 on Tuesday.
Summit Details:
Santa Ana Resort & Casino
54 Jemez Canyon Dam Road
Bernalillo, NM 87004
Monday, May 15, 2023
8 a.m. Opening Remarks by NM Supreme Court Chief Justice C. Shannon Bacon
Summit agenda is attached
