H.R. No. 111



R E S O L U T I O N
	WHEREAS, The District Judges of Nueces County, the District 
Attorney of Nueces County, and the Department of Community 
Supervision of Nueces County recognized that an alternative 
approach needed to be implemented with regard to defendants 
arrested for controlled substances because substance abuse 
offenders are likely to re-offend without effective substance abuse 
treatment; and
	WHEREAS, The Texas Legislature has recognized the 
effectiveness of Drug or Divert Courts by mandating their creation 
in all counties with a population of 500,000 or more; and
	WHEREAS, Regardless of the fact that Nueces County has a 
population of less than 500,000, the judges, district attorney, and 
probation department of Nueces County moved to establish a Drug 
Court, and the Nueces County Divert Court started in February 2004; 
and
	WHEREAS, The Divert Court operates a Court-supervised drug 
treatment program requiring offenders to complete a rigorous, 
three-phase, year-long program to learn of and deal with their 
addictions; participants are required to attend treatment sessions 
two to three times a week, meet with the probation department once a 
week, submit to random drug testing on a weekly basis, and make 
weekly Court appearances where consequences for digressions are 
sure and immediate; and
	WHEREAS, Participants who complete this demanding program 
are not only rewarded with dismissal of all criminal charges but 
with the satisfaction of having conquered their addiction; and 
	WHEREAS, Many individuals are responsible for the 
implementation of the Divert Court, including the District Judges 
of Nueces County, the Directors and Officers of the Department of 
Community Supervision, District Attorney Carlos Valdez, and Judge 
Sandra L. Watts, presiding Judge of the Divert Court; and
	WHEREAS, The leaders of Nueces County have committed 
themselves to helping and rehabilitating criminal offenders who 
suffer from drug addiction; their efforts not only benefit the 
offenders but also the criminal justice system and taxpayers of 
Nueces County, and they are most deserving of special recognition 
for their visionary and compassionate example; now, therefore, be 
it
	RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 79th Texas 
Legislature hereby commend all those who have contributed to the 
establishment and success of the Nueces County Divert Court and 
extend sincere best wishes to the participants and the many 
individuals who are affiliated with this exemplary program.

                                                                            Luna
                                                                          Seaman
                                                                         Herrero

                                                  ______________________________
                                                       Speaker of the House     

	I certify that H.R. No. 111 was adopted by the House on 
January 27, 2005, by a non-record vote.

                                                  ______________________________
                                                     Chief Clerk of the House