Saipan, CNMI – On Friday, April 26, 2024, the NMI Judiciary celebrated its “Treatment Court” month Proclamation with judges, justices and members of the community. Attendees and signatories included Governor Arnold I. Palacios and Senate President Edith E. DeLeon Guerrero.
At the ceremony, the Treatment Court Proclamation reaffirmed the Judiciary’s commitment to founding and sustaining innovative problem-solving courts. Since 2015, the NMI Drug Court has graduated 85 individuals after affording them comprehensive substance use disorder (SUD) treatment. The Drug Court Program (DCP) paved the way for the foundation of Mental Health Court in 2021. Mental Health Court Docket celebrated the successful conditional discharge of two participants from its program for the first time this January. Efforts are actively underway to establish other treatment courts.
Instituted by the National Association of Drug Court Professionals (also known as All Rise), Treatment Court Month celebrates the efforts of problem-solving courts nationwide. The NMI DCP receives frequent guidance from All Rise and its national network of partner courts.
By proclaiming May as Treatment Court Month, the Judiciary officially celebrates the proven successes of problem-solving courts like the DCP. The Proclamation further expressed the treatment court model’s achievements here in the NMI. Finally, the Proclamation committed the Judiciary to a renewed mission of aiding individuals with substance use and mental health disorders by “combining accountability with evidence-based treatment.”
The Judiciary’s effort and commitment have not gone unnoticed. Just as the Commonwealth is one of the first jurisdictions in the United States to begin a new day, the Judiciary is one of the first courts nationwide to announce its Proclamation. All Rise recognized the Commonwealth as one of the “first out of the gates with [a] Treatment Court Month proclamation!”
“This national recognition for our Treatment Courts is well-deserved. Drug Court and Mental Health Court Docket both positively impact the lives of participants and our community at-large. I commend the work of our treatment court stakeholders and staff in making these programs so successful, and look forward to celebrating that success the rest of the month,” said Judge Teresa K. Kim-Tenorio.
Treatment Court Month will continue to be recognized virtually throughout May with stories of success from Drug Court graduates shared on the Judiciary’s social media. Public celebration will continue with a Division of Youth Services donation drive organized by Peers in Recovery (May 20th, 9:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m. at the Carolinian Utt). Finally, the Judiciary will augment its problem-solving courts with new research and best practices on display at All Rise’s 2024 RISE Conference in Anaheim, California.w research and best practices on display at All Rise’s 2024 RISE Conference in Anaheim, California.
May 1, 2024: The National Association of Drug Court Professionals, also known as All Rise, recognized the Judiciary’s Proclamation and achievements on its page “Welcome to National Treatment Court Month.”
April 26, 2024: Judge Lillian A. Tenorio signs the Treatment Court Month Proclamation while Presiding Judge Roberto C. Naraja and Judge Teresa K. Kim-Tenorio wait to add their signatures, as well.
2024-PR-0006
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
MAY 9, 2024
This press release has been prepared by court staff for the convenience of the public. For further information, contact the Supreme Court at Supreme.Court@NMIJudiciary.gov.