Governor Proclaims May Treatment Court Month

Governor Kay Ivey has proclaimed May to be Treatment Court Month in Alabama.

The Proclamation emphasizes the success of treatment courts across many areas by providing alternatives to incarceration for those with substance use and mental illness disorders.

On April 17, the Governor signed SB200, which renamed Alabama’s “drug courts” to “accountability courts” and significantly reformed the State’s judicial approach to substance abuse issues within the Justice system. SB200 also expanded access to these courts to Veterans and those with mental health issues.

Treatment courts began in 1989 in Miami-Dade County, Florida, where the first drug court was established to address the growing number of drug-related offenses. This initiative diverted nonviolent offenders into treatment programs rather than traditional punitive measures. Since then, the model has expanded significantly. According to the National Treatment Court Resource Center, there are now over 4,000 treatment courts operating across the United States, encompassing various specialized courts such as adult drug courts, mental health courts, veterans treatment courts, and family treatment courts.

According to All Rise, a national nonprofit organization supporting treatment courts, these programs have been shown to reduce crime by up to 58% and save an average of $6,000 per participant by decreasing incarceration and related costs.

Treatment courts have also been instrumental in addressing the opioid crisis. By providing access to medication-assisted treatment and comprehensive support services, these courts help individuals achieve sustained recovery and reintegrate into society as productive members.

The Governor’s Proclamation may be found HERE.