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 | ||
