Bill Text: TX HR168 | 2021-2022 | 87th Legislature | Enrolled
Bill Title: Honoring the alternative juvenile justice courts of Harris County for their 10 years of service to the community.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)
Status: (Passed) 2021-03-18 - Reported enrolled [HR168 Detail]
Download: Texas-2021-HR168-Enrolled.html
H.R. No. 168 |
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WHEREAS, More than a decade ago, Harris County began creating | ||
specialty courts that are designed to rehabilitate and reduce | ||
recidivism in juvenile offenders; and | ||
WHEREAS, The first of these courts, a mental health program | ||
that was renamed Court 360, was established in January 2009; the | ||
court was intended to address the unique needs of youth with mental | ||
health conditions, but it has since adopted a comprehensive | ||
approach where participants receive individualized guidance in | ||
various areas of their lives, including family relationships, | ||
academic performance, and community engagement; this court is | ||
currently presided over by Judge Dena Fisher; and | ||
WHEREAS, The Sobriety Over Addiction and Relapse Court, or | ||
SOAR Court, was created in July 2010; presided over by Judge | ||
Michelle Moore and Associate Judge Eric Andell, it utilizes a | ||
collaborative multidisciplinary model to help juvenile offenders | ||
overcome drug and alcohol dependence; as with Court 360, | ||
participants in the SOAR Court program are provided with an | ||
individualized, research-based treatment plan with the objective | ||
of improving outcomes by promoting healthier family communication | ||
and interaction; and | ||
WHEREAS, In August 2011, the county established what would | ||
later be known as the Creating Advocacy Recovery and Empowerment | ||
(CARE) Court; overseen by Judge Leah Shapiro, CARE Court was | ||
developed to assist young women and girls who had been exploited in | ||
commercial sex trafficking, but it later began accepting boys, | ||
young men, and transgender youth as well; the program employs a | ||
clinically driven, multidisciplinary team, with a comprehensive | ||
focus on resolving trauma and other underlying issues that | ||
contribute to at-risk and delinquent behavior; and | ||
WHEREAS, The newest specialty court, GRIP Court, was founded | ||
in October 2011; officially known as the Gang Recidivism | ||
Intervention Program, the court is presided over by Judge Natalia | ||
Oakes and Associate Judge William Thursland; its purpose is to | ||
reduce gang association by promoting pro-social behaviors, | ||
redirecting youth to healthier alternatives, and improving family | ||
relationships; participants are closely monitored and receive | ||
individualized treatment plans, which include mentorship, | ||
educational assistance, and other means of support; and | ||
WHEREAS, Each of these programs has played a vital role in | ||
Harris County's efforts to curb delinquency, tackle the root causes | ||
of criminal behavior, and offer at-risk youth a pathway to a better, | ||
brighter future, and it is a privilege to recognize those who have | ||
devoted their time and expertise to these important goals; now, | ||
therefore, be it | ||
RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 87th Texas | ||
Legislature hereby honor the alternative juvenile justice courts of | ||
Harris County for their 10 years of invaluable service to the | ||
community and extend to all those involved with these programs | ||
sincere best wishes for continued success. | ||
A. Johnson of Harris | ||
______________________________ | ||
Speaker of the House | ||
I certify that H.R. No. 168 was adopted by the House on March | ||
10, 2021, by a non-record vote. | ||
______________________________ | ||
Chief Clerk of the House | ||