CONCORD, NH – Gov. Christopher Sununu this month joined the Friends of NH Drug Courts as an honorary board member.
“New Hampshire’s Drug Courts help those that are addicted stay out of prison and gets them the treatment and recovery they need. Friends of New Hampshire Drug Courts play an important role in assisting the courts and those participating in them,” Sununu said, adding that he was honored to be part of the non-profit organization.
In 2016, new legislation created the statewide drug offender program that provides more than $2 million in matching state grants to help establish drug courts or alternative drug offender programs in counties across New Hampshire. The ultimate goal is to establish drug courts in all New Hampshire counties. Hillsborough-North Manchester was the first new drug court to become operational under this expansion program. In 2017, new drug courts are expected to become operational in Merrimack and Carroll counties with Coos to follow soon thereafter.
“We know that offenders who leave jail or prison after a year have a 70 percent chance of re-offending,” Superior Court Chief Justice Tina Nadeau said. “Drug Court graduates have a 22 percent chance. For the first time ever, drug court graduates can have some control over their lives and their choices, and they start making better choices, and see results.
Sununu becomes the second New Hampshire governor to serve the Friends as an honorary board member. Former Gov. Maggie Hassan joined in 2016 during the group’s first year of existence as a non-profit agency formed to support drug courts across the state.
Learn more about the Friends of NH Drug Courts here.
