The Seventeenth Circuit’s 94th felony drug court graduation ceremony last week celebrated 141 participants who successfully completed the program! Since its inception, drug court has helped thousands of people in the court system overcome their addictions. This recent graduation ceremony honored one drug court graduate with an 8-year recovery medallion.

The ceremony was hosted by Drug Court Judges Michele Towbin-Singer and Ari Porth and Magistrate Phillip Schlissel, as well as their staff. Judge Mark Speiser was the Master of Ceremonies.

Congratulations to judges and staff of Florida’s courts and members of the Office of the State Court Administrator’s Office of Court Improvement team recognized by the Prudential Productivity Awards for work on the Adult Post-Adjudicatory Drug Court Expansion Program. Representing Broward County, ours in the Seventeenth Circuit is one of only nine in the state with this program.

The Expansion Program helps the state save millions with evidence-based diversion for screened participants to get community-based treatment services – the documented state-wide savings from this program over three years time is $3.8 million. It puts eligible individuals on a path to sobriety and a better life while diverting appropriate participants from prison.

Since 1989, the Prudential Productivity Awards program has recognized state employees for innovation and productivity gains that improve the delivery of state services and save money for Florida taxpayers and businesses.

In addition to the Seventeenth Circuit, Adult Post-Adjudicatory Drug Courts also operate in:

Escambia and Okaloosa counties in the First Judicial Circuit;
Marion County in the Fifth Judicial Circuit
Pinellas County in the Sixth Judicial Circuit
Volusia County in the Seventh Judicial Circuit
Orange County in the Ninth Judicial Circuit
Polk County in the 10th Judicial Circuit
Hillsborough County in the 13th Judicial Circuit
Seminole County in the 18th Judicial Circuit

Judge Florence Barner and Judge Keathan Frink were recently honored at a dinner reception recognizing “South Florida’s ‘Most Powerful and Influential Black Business Leaders of 2018′” hosted by Legacy Magazine.

Congratulations to both judges!

A group of seventy teenagers representing eight law enforcement agencies across the county took part in an afternoon tour of the central courthouse last week. The Young Explorer Academy students observed first appearance court, spoke with Judge Robert Diaz, watched juvenile detention court, and got a hands-on tour of the BSO Crime Scene Unit.

A special thanks to Karen Sisson who arranged the visit and assisted with the tour.

Judge Kal Evans attended the 19th Annual Boys & Girls Night Out, hosted by the community group Children Reaching for the Stars. He was the guest of honor and spoke to the children about how to work hard to succeed in life.

Judges and court staff working in juvenile drug court took part in a three-day training program last week, hosted collaboratively by American University’s Justice Program Office and the National Association of Drug Court Professionals. The “Juvenile Drug Court Training & Technical Assistance Initiative” included in-court observation and classroom-style training, and was funded by the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention.