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CICAD's DTC teams get training in Nashville event
Eight OAS Member States Reaffirm Commitment to Drug Court Treatment Model
June 2, 2012
CICAD participants visited the drug treatment court of Franklin, Tennessee, to observer first hand how the DTC team intervenes to keep drug dependent offenders on track in their recovery plan.
The Organization of American States (OAS), in a collaborative effort with the National Association of Drug Court Professionals (NADCP), brought together this week in Nashville, United States, 80 professionals from Argentina, Chile, Costa Rica, the Dominican Republic, El Salvador, Mexico and Panama to receive practical training on setting up and managing drug treatment courts (DTCs).
The meeting, in which judges, prosecutors, defense attorneys and treatment providers from Puerto Rico also took part, was part of the annual NADCP conference, which this year brought together more than 4000 professionals in justice and health. This is the first time that so many Spanish-speaking delegates underwent practical training, which included attending pre-trial and trial sessions at the Franklin, TN drug treatment court, where they studied actual cases of drug dependent offenders.
Judge Timothy Easter presides in his DTC session in Franklin, TN.
“Though not the only solution for countries that are dealing with a drug problem, this model is an effective solution on which there is scientific evidence of success, that permits us to recover the individual drug-dependent offender, while reducing the crime rate in our countries,” said Ambassador Paul E. Simons, CICAD Executive Secretary, in his opening remarks.
Speaking as the NADCP Director, West Huddleston recalled the importance of this strategic alliance and underscored their support of CICAD and the countries working to promote this model.
During the NADCP conference inaugural remarks, the Director of the U.S. Office of National Drug Control Policy, Gil Kerlikowske, acknowledged CICAD's efforts for bringing such a strong international showing to the event.
CICAD used the occasion to consolidate the commitment to this model in participating countries. Costa Rica, the Dominican Republic, and Argentina (Salta Province) plan to open pilot projects in the coming months. Chile already has 19 courts operating. Mexico opened its first DTC two years ago and is exploring new pilot projects elsewhere in the country.
The NADCP conference is the largest gathering of DTC professionals in the world and stretched over four days of conferences, leadership forums, skills-building workshops, panel discussions and other opportunities to learn from colleagues.
During the conference, CICAD and the NADCP spent a full day fielding questions in Spanish and resolving concerns about this approach. The day concluded with a visit to the Franklin, TN drug treatment court, presided by Judge Timothy Easter.
At leadership forums and skills-building workshops, CICAD drew on the participation of strong international DTC advocates, such as the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Jamaica, Zaila McCalla; Judge Kofi Barnes, president of the Canadian Association of Drug Court Professionals (CADCP), which organized a similar experience with CICAD for Caribbean professionals in March in Toronto; Judge Rogelio Flores, Chair of the NADCP's International Section, and Director Enrique Betancourt Gaona, head of the National Center for Crime Prevention and Citizen Participation of Mexico.
The Program for Drug Treatment Tribunals in the Americas is being financed by the governments of Canada, the United States and Trinidad and Tobago..
updated on 6/11/2012 3:32:21 PM
