WHAT: Drug Court Commencement Ceremony

WHEN: Wednesday, August 19, 2015, 11:30 AM

WHERE: Moultrie Courthouse, Courtroom C-10, 500 Indiana Avenue, NW

WHO: Michael Botticelli, Director, National Drug Control Policy; Judge Gregory Jackson, DC Superior Court (Presiding Judge, Drug Court); Cliff Keenan, Director, Pretrial Services Agency for the District of Columbia

A drug court is a specially designed court calendar designed to achieve a reduction in recidivism and substance abuse among nonviolent substance abusing defendants. The program also strives to increase the defendant’s likelihood of successful habilitation through early, continuous, and intense judicially-supervised treatment, mandatory periodic drug testing, community supervision, and use of appropriate sanctions and other rehabilitation services.

Eligible drug-addicted persons may request to be transferred to Drug Court in lieu of traditional criminal justice system case processing. Drug Courts keep individuals in treatment while supervising them closely. While in drug court, participants are provided with intensive treatment and other services they require to get and stay clean and sober; held accountable by the Drug Court judge for meeting their obligations to the court, society, themselves and their families; tested for drug use; required to appear in court frequently so that the judge may review their progress; and rewarded for doing well or sanctioned when they do not live up to their obligations.

As Director of National Drug Control Policy at the White House, Michael Botticelli leads the Administration’s drug policy efforts, which are based on a balanced public health and public safety approach. The Obama Administration has advanced drug policy reforms and innovations in prevention, criminal justice, treatment, and recovery. Mr. Botticelli has more than two decades of experience supporting Americans affected by substance use disorders and has been in long-term recovery from a substance use disorder, himself, for more than 26 years. 

NOTE: J. Jackson and Dir. Keenan will be available after the graduation for interviews. Cameras and recorders must be cleared in advance; participants may only be photographed or interviewed with their permission.