Local Nonprofit Justice Forward Announces New Name, More Services

Press release from Justice Forward:

July 29, 2020

Today, the local nonprofit formerly known as the Harris County Drug Court Foundation (HCDCF), founded in 2003 to fund various support services for Harris County STAR Drug Court clients and graduates, announced its new name and redefined mission. The newly minted Justice Forward expands its support to all 18 Harris County Specialty Courts, the first strategic alliance of its kind in Texas. Specialty courts help individuals with drug dependencies, mental illness and/or other societal challenges avoid incarceration by focusing on rehabilitation and introducing therapy-based solutions into the criminal justice system.

“We believe Justice Forward is a model for the nation, demonstrating how courts and community resources can work together to transform lives and redefine the traditional justice system,” said Devon Anderson, former Harris County District Attorney and current CEO and President of Justice Forward. “We’ve seen impressively low rates of recidivism among the individuals we’ve helped since our founding in 2003, and we look forward to making an even bigger impact with our newly expanded scope.”

Justice Forward will build on the work of HCDCF to provide services to hundreds of non-violent offenders in Harris County to reduce the rate of recidivism, or the tendency to reoffend, and increase family reunification rates. With its new charter, Justice Forward’s client base will include veterans, those who struggle with substance abuse disorders, individuals with mental health issues, and juveniles involved in human trafficking and gang activity.

The organization will support specialty court clients by providing funds for a variety of services, including counseling, recovery coaching, job coaching, transitional housing, transportation vouchers, gift cards and scholarships for tuition assistance, workforce development training and testing fees. These essential services and incentives reward and redirect client behavior, ultimately helping them become healthy, productive members of society.

In celebration of Justice Forward’s launch, the Rockwell Fund has generously offered to match donations up to $50,000 through December 1, 2020. Additionally, this fall, Justice Forward will host Picnic for Progress, a socially distanced, outdoor event to raise awareness and funds to support the organization’s expanded mission.

For more information, please visit www.justiceforwardhouston.org or follow Justice Forward on Facebook @JusticeForwardHOU, Instagram @Justice_Forward, and Twitter @JusticeFwdHOU.

Harris County Specialty Courts

Specialty Courts are problem-solving courts that focus on treatment for adults and juveniles with drug or alcohol dependencies, mental illness and/or other societal challenges. The Courts address the root causes of criminal activity by providing a judicially supervised, individually crafted probation with mandated treatment, bridging the gap between the justice system and therapeutic solutions. Participation in Harris County Specialty Courts is voluntary, and participants are typically referred by their attorneys, their presiding judge, the prosecutor, the probation officer or Child Protective Services. Courts employ a graduated system of incentives and sanctions to reward and re-direct behavior, encouraging participants to reach their goals. Each client receives a personalized probation and treatment plan overseen by a team of judges, attorneys, counselors and treatment providers.

Under its new mission, Justice Forward will raise funds for and serve all 18 Harris County Specialty Courts, which include:

· Adult Specialty Courts (14)

o Felony Mental Health Courts (2)

o Positive Pathways to Family Reunification Court (1)

o Saving Ourselves By Education and Recovery (SOBER) Courts (5)

o Success Through Addiction Recovery (STAR) Drug Courts (4)

o Veterans’ Courts (2)

· Juvenile Specialty Courts (4)

o Creating Advocacy, Recovery & Empowerment (CARE) Court (sex trafficking)

o Court 360º (mental health)

o Gang Recidivism Intervention Program (GRIP) Court (gang association)

o Sobriety Over Addiction & Relapse (SOAR) Court (drug abuse)

ABOUT JUSTICE FORWARD

Justice Forward is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to breaking the cycle of incarceration and funding essential programs for individuals in the Harris County Specialty Court system to help them become independent and productive members of our community. Justice Forward works with 18 Specialty Courts and serves veterans, individuals who struggle with substance abuse disorders, individuals with mental health issues, as well as juveniles involved in trafficking and gang activity. The first strategic alliance initiative of its kind in Texas, the organization provides funding for housing and transitional living, specialty counseling and recovery coaching, transportation assistance, and gift and grocery cards, among other essential services that help lower recidivism rates and increase family reunification rates.

This press release was produced by Justice Forward. The views expressed here are the author's own.