Friends of the Maui Drug Court

Incarcerating Drug Court clients would cost nearly $20 million; statewide Drug Court program costs only $3 million

2010-03-29T17:22:00.003-10:00

Here's an excerpt from the Judiciary's testimony to the Legislature:

it would cost about $19.6 million to incarcerate everyone for one year, as compared to the entire adult drug court appropriation for FY 2010 of just over $3 million

And here's a link to the .pdf of the entire 7-page testimony to be presented on Wednesday:

http://www.courts.state.hi.us/docs/news_and_reports_docs/legislative_update/HB2000%28WAM%29.pdf

Make a tax-deductible online donation to Friends of the Maui Drug Court!

2009-11-12T13:06:00.001-10:00

http://tinyurl.com/friends-of-the-maui-drug-court

Mahalo!

Upcoming Maui/Moloka`i Drug Court graduation ceremonies

2009-11-11T20:48:00.002-10:00

Thursday, January 21st (Maui)
Monday, January 25th (Moloka`i)
Thursday, April 22nd (Maui)
Monday, April 26th (Moloka`i)

News from Oklahoma: " State's drug courts save taxpayers' money"

2009-11-11T20:45:00.000-10:00

http://www.normantranscript.com/opinion/local_story_315011548

Drug courts, if nothing else, make good economic sense for the state. A year in drug court costs about $5,000 compared to $19,000 to keep someone incarcerated

For Veterans Day: a look at a veterans drug court

2009-11-11T20:42:00.001-10:00

Drug court is one of the best ideas ever to hit Pierce County’s criminal justice system. It’s just been joined by another great idea: veterans drug court.

http://arizonaprisonwatch.blogspot.com/2009/11/veterans-drug-courts.html

Interesting criminal-justice reform blog: Center for Court Innovation

2009-11-11T20:38:00.001-10:00

http://courtinnovation.blogspot.com/

Free seminar Friday a.m. in Honolulu: "Criminal Justice Meets Addiction Medicine: A Discussion of Project HOPE"

2009-11-09T17:23:00.000-10:00

http://tinyurl.com/hope-hi

Congratulations to Aloha House!

2009-09-12T16:52:00.001-10:00

http://www.mauinews.com/page/content.detail/id/522808.html?nav=15

The rehabilitative services of Aloha House and Malama Family Recovery Center have been accredited for three years by CARF, formerly the Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities.

Aloha House's accreditation covers:

* The case management/coordination of services and the crisis stabilization elements of its adult mental health program.

* Drug Court treatment for adult addictions to alcohol and other drugs.

* Outpatient treatment for adult, child and adolescent addictions to alcohol and other drugs and for mental health.

* Residential treatment for adult addiction to alcohol and other drugs.

Rotary Club on O`ahu makes donations for First Circuit Drug Court clients

2009-09-04T10:56:00.002-10:00

http://www.courts.state.hi.us/page_server/News/e-Court-Briefs/5985C73F9EACA223121ACEF32.html

"Drug Court Rebuilds Lives"

2009-08-21T09:08:00.001-10:00

From the current issue of Maui Weekly:

“Drug court kicked my butt. It was hard,” said one graduate. “But this was my only chance to live life sober. It was the hardest thing I’ve ever done, but it was definitely the best thing.”

Meet the Director & Deputy Director of National Drug Control Policy

2009-08-07T10:46:00.003-10:00

Director of National Drug Control Policy - R. Gil Kerlikowske
http://www.whitehousedrugpolicy.gov/about/staff_bios.html

Deputy Director of National Drug Control Policy - A. Thomas McLellan

http://judiciary.senate.gov/nominations/111thCongressExecutiveNominations/DeputyDirectorNDCP-McLellan.cfm

Gen. Barry McCaffrey urges support for Drug Courts

2009-07-27T09:12:00.001-10:00

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/gen-barry-mccaffrey/breaking-our-addiction-to_b_245401.html

The verdict is in on Drug Courts. It has been proven beyond a reasonable doubt that Drug Courts work. Drug Courts significantly reduce drug abuse and crime and do so at less expense than any other justice strategy.

Congress expresses strong support for drug courts

2009-07-09T07:41:00.001-10:00

According to the National Association of Drug Court Professionals, the U.S. House of Representatives has voted to approve $45 million for the Drug Court Discretionary Grant Program (a $5 million increase over last year). The House also adopted a committee report with the following statement:

The Committee strongly supports drug courts, which serve a vital role in the Nation's justice system. By providing alternatives to the prosecution and incarceration of offenders with substance abuse problems, drug courts help rebuild lives, support families, and reduce recidivism and the costs of incarceration.

Video highlights success of Kaua`i Drug Court graduates

2009-07-09T07:28:00.001-10:00

Drug Court to be discussed tomorrow (July 10) at Upcountry Maui Rotary Club

2009-07-09T07:19:00.002-10:00

http://www.upcountrymauirotary.org/Calendar.cfm

July 10

Weekly Meeting

Speaker is Judge Shackley Raffetto on Friends of the Maui Drug Court

7:30 AM - 8:30 AM

New website address for National Association of Drug Court Professionals

2009-07-09T07:18:00.001-10:00

http://allrise.org

Hawaii Meth Project website

2009-06-29T13:54:00.000-10:00

http://hawaiimethproject.org/

"Trey Anastasio, Phish Frontman, Tells Addiction Story On Capitol Hill, Lobbies For Drug Courts"

2009-05-08T11:13:00.001-10:00

Via Huffington Post:

"My name is Trey Anastasio, and I'm a recovering alcoholic and a proud graduate of the Washington drug court program," he tells a gathering of drug court professionals and supportive members of Congress. "Yeah, Trey!" yells a Hill staffer in the audience, as if waiting for Anastasio to whip out his guitar.
* * *
His presence might aid the cause, but drug courts are among those rare programs that don't need to rely on anecdotes alone. Because they work.

Press Release: Maui Oral Health Center providing dental services for Drug Court

2009-03-06T18:39:00.001-10:00

For Immediate Release:
March 6, 2009

Contact:
Friends of the Maui Drug Court
808.276.3488
friendsmauidrugcourt@gmail.com

Maui Oral Health Center providing dental services for Drug Court

WAILUKU, Hawai`i – Maui Oral Health Center is now providing dental treatment to Maui/Moloka`i Drug Court clients and their minor children, Friends of the Maui Drug Court, President S. Larry Schlesinger, M.D., announced today.

The program is made possible by a major grant to Friends of the Maui Drug Court provided by the U.S. Department of Justice’s Crystal Meth Initiative, administered by the Hawai`i Community Foundation, as well as by other generous donations provided by local organizations and community members, Schlesinger said.

The Wailuku-based Maui Oral Health Center is a project of Maui Community College, the County of Maui, the State Department of Health and the Maui County Oral Health Task Force. Students in MCC’s Dental Assisting Program are part of the clinical team at Maui Oral Health Center, which provides dental services to underserved, low-income and uninsured families under the leadership of Clinical Director Spencer Owades, DMD.

Lack of access to dental treatment has been identified as a major impediment to the well-being and rehabilitation of Drug Court clients, Schlesinger said.

“This partnership to provide much-need dental treatment will remove an obstacle to the rehabilitative work of the Drug Court,” Schlesinger said. “We thank Dr. Owades and the entire Maui Oral Health Center staff for embarking on this effort.

“We also extend our gratitude to the Crystal Meth Initiative and the other donors to Friends of the Maui Drug Court who allow us to provide these services.”

More information about the Maui Oral Health Center is available at its website:
http://maui.hawaii.edu/student/oralHealthCenter.php

The Maui/Molokai Drug Court provides a range of intervention, treatment and prevention programs with the goal of reducing the devastating impact of substance abuse on Maui County's families and community resources. Drug Court provides non-violent offenders an opportunity to avoid or minimize incarceration upon completion of an intensive, judicially supervised substance abuse treatment program.

Since the Maui/Moloka`i Drug Court began accepting clients in the courtroom of Judge Shackley F. Raffetto more than eight years ago, Friends of the Maui Drug Court has provided critical support to the program, including by funding milestone awards and graduation ceremonies.

More information about Friends of the Maui Drug Court and the Maui/Moloka`i Drug Court is available at:
http://mauidrugcourt.info/
-30-

Enjoy Zippy's chili & support Friends of the Maui Drug Court!

2009-01-30T17:32:00.003-10:00

Aloha,

Friends of the Maui Drug Court is the charitable organization that supports the efforts of the Maui/Moloka`i Drug Court to break the cycle of substance abuse and crime in Maui County.

Friends of the Maui Drug Court provides child care, dental treatment, milestone awards, and other services to Drug Court clients, in consultation with Drug Court Judge Shackley Raffetto and Drug Court Administrator Barbara-Ann Keller.

To support these projects, we are selling Zippy's chili tickets for $7. Tickets can be used at any Zippy's on O`ahu or Maui until April 8, 2009. Each ticket can be redeemed for a 1.5-pound order of vegetarian or regular chili.

If you'd like to buy some tickets, please send a note stating how many tickets you need and where they should be mailed, along with a check payable to Friends of the Maui Drug Court.

Here's the address:

FMDC
C/O RAATZ
PO BOX 3216
WAILUKU HI 96793-8216

Questions:

friendsmauidrugcourt@gmail.com

Mahalo!

Friends of the Maui Drug Court awarded $24,000 grant by Office of Hawaiian Affairs

2009-01-26T00:02:00.000-10:00

For Immediate Release:

January 26, 2009

Contact:

Friends of the Maui Drug Court

808.276.3488

friendsmauidrugcourt@gmail.com

Friends of the Maui Drug Court awarded $24,000 grant by Office of Hawaiian Affairs

KAHULUI, Hawai`i – Friends of the Maui Drug Court has been awarded a $24,000 grant from Office of Hawaiian Affairs, FMDC President S. Larry Schlesinger, M.D., announced today.

The funding will allow FMDC to provide services such as child care, dental treatment and medical exams to Maui/Moloka`i Drug Court clients. Approximately 60 percent of Drug Court clients are native Hawaiian.

OHA's grant will also facilitate training for Drug Court professionals, funding of an executive director position and research on Drug Court graduates' recidivism rates. The grant period runs from Feb. 1, 2009 to Jan. 31, 2010.

"This is OHA's first grant to Friends of the Maui Drug Court, and we look forward to our new partnership," Schlesinger said. "We commend the Office of Hawaiian Affairs for its progressive thinking and its major backing of the Drug Court's important work to break the cycle of substance abuse and crime in Maui County."

The Maui/Molokai Drug Court provides a range of intervention, treatment and prevention programs with the goal of reducing the devastating impact of substance abuse on Maui County's families and community resources. Drug Court provides non-violent offenders an opportunity to avoid or minimize incarceration upon completion of an intensive, judicially supervised substance abuse treatment program.

Since the Maui/Moloka`i Drug Court began accepting clients under the leadership of Judge Shackley F. Raffetto more than eight years ago, FMDC has provided critical support to the program, including by funding milestone awards and graduation ceremonies.

Nearly 300 former defendants have graduated from the Maui/Moloka`i Drug Court. The most recent graduation ceremony was conducted on Maui on Jan. 22. A graduation ceremony is scheduled on Moloka`i today.

Last year, FMDC commenced a program to provide child care services, allowing Drug Court clients to attend necessary meetings. FMDC is also planning to make available dental services via Maui Oral Health Center and local dentists, while also providing physical exams to Drug Court clients.

The grant is provided through the OHA Community Grants Program, which assists community-based organizations working to address the needs of the Hawaiian community. More information about the Office of Hawaiian Affairs is available at http://oha.org/. More information about Friends of the Maui Drug Court and the Maui/Moloka`i Drug Court is available at http://mauidrugcourt.info/.

-30-

Maui TV News reports on A&B Foundation's generous grant

2008-12-10T20:16:00.001-10:00

The story is about 18 minutes into the video.

Mahalo to Maui TV News!

Friends of the Maui Drug Court Receives $2,000 From Bank of Hawaii

2008-12-09T20:22:00.001-10:00

For Immediate Release: December 9, 2008

Contact: Friends of the Maui Drug Court friendsmauidrugcourt@gmail.com

Friends of the Maui Drug Court Receives $2,000 From Bank of Hawaii

KAHULUI, Hawai`i – Friends of the Maui Drug Court has received a $2,000 donation from the Bank of Hawaii Charitable Foundation to support its services to Drug Court clients, FMDC President S. Larry Schlesinger, M.D., announced today.

Schlesinger and FMDC Administrative Assistant David Raatz received the grant from Kevin Baptist, Bank of Hawaii's Senior Vice President and Maui Region and Island Manger, in a ceremony at Bankoh's Wailuku branch last month.

"We are grateful for this significant grant from the Bank of Hawaii Charitable Foundation," Schlesinger said. "This donation provides important operational support to FMDC, allowing us to efficiently fulfill our mission of helping the Drug Court break the cycle of substance abuse and crime in Maui County."

The Maui/Molokai Drug Court provides a continuum of intervention, treatment and prevention programs aimed at reducing substance abuse and its devastating impact on Maui County families and community resources. The Drug Court provides non-violent offenders an opportunity to avoid or minimize incarceration upon completion of an intensive, judicially supervised substance abuse treatment program.

Since the Drug Court commenced operations in 2000, FMDC has provided critical ancillary services to support the rehabilitation of Drug Court clients, including milestone awards, medical and dental treatment and child care. Nearly 300 former defendants have graduated from the Maui/Moloka`i Drug Court.

More information about Friends of the Maui Drug Court and the Maui/Moloka`i Drug Court is available at http://mauidrugcourt.info/.

PHOTO CAPTION: Pictured from left to right:

Dr. S. Larry Schlesinger, President, Friends of the Maui Drug Court; Kevin Baptist, Bank of Hawaii – Senior Vice President and Maui Region and Island Manager; David Raatz,Administrative Assistant, Friends of the Maui Drug Court.

NFL player Matt Jones commits to success in drug court

2008-12-05T22:20:00.002-10:00

"Drug court program reunites parents with children"

2008-12-05T22:13:00.002-10:00

From Saturday's Shreveport (La.) Times:

Caddo started its Family Drug Court program about four years ago.
"There was just a need for it," said Linda Van Zile, court coordinator. "In 80 percent or so of abuse cases, there are drugs involved."
The National Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse estimates substance abuse contributes to up to 70 percent of child maltreatment cases.