The National Association of Drug Court Professionals (NADCP) held its 2015 national conference last month in Washington, D.C. and it might as well have been called the Texas Conference. Here is why:
JUDGE RUBEN REYES of Lubbock, Texas was elected as the Chairman of the NADCP Board of Directors. Judge Reyes has presided over the Lubbock County Adult Drug Court Program since 2008, has been on the NADCP Board since 2010 and now assumes the helm of leadership for NADCP.
CHARLES ROBINSON of Travis County was elected as Secretary of the NADCP Board of Directors. Mr. Robinson is the Chief Probation and Pretrial Services Officer for Travis County. He has been on the Board since 2012.
Additionally, two (2) awards were given to Texans:
MARY COVINGTON of Harris County, Texas was honored with the Hank Pirowski Award given to those exhibiting exemplary work in the area of Veteran's Treatment Courts. Mary Covington is the Special Programs Manager for the Harris County Adult Drug Court, Success Through Addiction Recovery and Veterans Treatment Court programs. Ms. Covington has been an incredible advocate at the state and national level.
JUDGE ROBERT ANCHONDO of El Paso, Texas received the DWI Court Leadership Award given to an individual who has made significant contributions to the DWI court field, local, as well as nationally. In 2004, with the help of his talented team, Judge Anchondo created the El Paso DWI Court Intervention and Treatment Program, the first of its kind in the Texas. The El Paso DWI court presently serves as one of four DWI Academy courts in the United States.
The stars shine bright for the Lone Star State as Texas leads the way on Criminal Justice Reform.
(Courtesy Texas Association of Drug Court Professionals)