Arizona Superior Court in Pima County
Tuesday, June 15, 2021 by Superior Court
Eleven Pima County community members will culminate their hard work and efforts Thursday night as they graduate from Superior Court’s Drug Court and the Pima County Attorney’s DTAP (Drug Treatment Alternative to Prison) programs.
Starting at 7:00 p.m. on June 17 at Kino’s North Stadium, family members, guests, and court and agency staff will cheer on the graduates as they accept their diplomas.
Thursday’s event marks the first opportunity for a proper ceremony, due to the pandemic, since early 2020. “For many of our graduates, the start of their recovery journey began at a time of uncertainty, not only in themselves but in the world itself,” noted David Quan, Pima County Adult Probation Supervisor and Drug Court/DTAP Program Director.
Since 2005, more than 500 offenders have graduated from Pima County’s Drug Court program, a collaboration between the Superior Court, local justice partners, and various treatment providers in the community.
Complementing Drug Court is DTAP’s three-year program, offered by the Pima County Attorney’s Office - the only program of its kind in Arizona. It focuses on individuals considered high risk/high need, providing residential drug treatment blended with wraparound recovery support services. DTAP has celebrated more than 100 graduations since its inception in 2010.
Research shows that drug courts reduce a community’s burden and expense of repeatedly processing non-violent, low-level offenders through their detention and court systems. The programs focus on recovery and rehabilitation rather than punishment, and blend justice with treatment.
“As we turn the corner from this pandemic, our graduates have turned away from their addiction. They have chosen to live the life they want and deserve,” stated Quan.
The Superior Court invites the public and media to join them in celebrating each deserving individual who has blossomed into their own healthy, happy, and productive new life.