Friends of the Court Provides a Helping Hand: The Story of "Emma"
Every now and then, Friends of the Court is fortunate enough to hear how lives have changed after extending a helping hand. Today, we’re honored to share Emma’s[i] success story.
Emma is on Intensive supervision and part of the Maricopa Adult Probation’s Justice Involved Women Program. In order to better provide for herself and her young child, she has been participating in a culinary arts program to provide her with more marketable skills. Participation in this program required that she place her young child into a daycare program. However, she didn’t have the money to both pay for daycare while completing her schooling.
We at Friends of the Court spoke with Emma and confirmed that she was in good standing on probation, we then agreed to cover the costs of day care for one month. FOTC is grateful for the opportunity to make a real and positive difference in Emma’s life and her child’s future. Below is an excerpt from a letter she wrote.
"Because of your generosity, I am able to continue my culinary program while ensuring my child is cared for in a safe and stable environment. This support has allowed me to stay focused on my education, fulfill the requirements of my intensive probation, and continue choosing a sober and clean lifestyle as I work toward rebuilding my future.
Balancing school, parenting, and personal accountability is not easy, but your belief in me has given me both relief and motivation. Knowing that an organization like yours is willing to invest in people who are working hard to better their lives has strengthened my determination to succeed not just for myself, but for my family.”
[i] Emma is not her real name
Friends of the Court Arizona is Honored to Support the Superior Court Drug Court Alumni Association
This Alumni Association offers graduates a vital, ongoing connection to the program that helped them begin their recovery journey. By mentoring, encouraging, and supporting fellow alumni, the Association embodies the very purpose of our grants, strengthening lives, families, and communities through hope, accountability, and fellowship.
With Friends of the Court funding, the Alumni Association has created sober, prosocial events that build community and reinforce a lasting recovery lifestyle. From speaker meetings and informal gatherings to picnics, bowling nights, and holiday celebrations, these activities provide safe spaces where participants can connect, support one another, and lay the foundation for lifelong success.
We are inspired to see our grant dollars used in such meaningful ways, and we celebrate the Alumni Association’s role in helping Drug Court clients and graduates thrive. The following letter (below), shared with us by court staff, confirms the very real difference this support makes for people striving to improve their lives—and the communities they call home.
"Alumni from our program have the desire to assist, support, and promote current Drug Court clients and other graduates in achieving success and living sober lives by promoting the recovery lifestyle through mentoring and fellowship. The FOTC funds allow us to create sober events for alumni and curr
Maricopa Superior Court Drug Court Alumni Association
Guadalupe Teen Court
Congratulations to the Guadalupe Teen Court!
At Friends of the Court, we take pride in the positive impact our grant funding brings to the community. This year, we were honored to award a grant to the Guadalupe Teen Court, which is celebrating its 10th anniversary of helping teens in the Town of Guadalupe. You’re invited to join in their celebration! Simply scan the QR code in the image to learn more and RSVP so they know you’ll be attending..
The Two Videos Below are of the Maricopa Adult Drug Court
Friends of the Court is proud to offer grant money to Treatment Courts in Maricopa County like the Adult Drug Court. By offering grants for bus passes, food coupons, and housing vouchers, we provide a helping hand to participants on the road to once again being contributing members of our community.
Testimonials of Two Adult Drug Court Participants
The first video shows the testimonials of Diana Martinez and Dovie Friedenberg, both participants in Maricopa County’s Adult Drug Court. Their struggle to sobriety is harrowing; the support from the Drug Court is heartening.
Testimonials of Two Adult Drug Court Participants
The first video shows the testimonials of Diana Martinez and Dovie Friedenberg, both participants in Maricopa County’s Adult Drug Court. Their struggle to sobriety is harrowing; the support from the Drug Court is heartening.
Adult Drug Court's 20th Anniversary
The second video shows the work of the Maricopa Adult Drug Court for the last 20 years. This work, told by the people most closely connected to the Court, is inspiring. The video includes two participants, Crystal Norcross and Karisma Doughty, whose lives were saved by their involvement in Drug Court.
The Courts We Serve
Superior Court Veterans' Court
The Veterans Court is an interagency collaborative effort that serves veterans in the criminal justice system and address probationer’s substance abuse, mental health, and life issues, by improving access to Veterans Administration Services (VA) for benefits and services, and promoting a reduction in recidivism. The Court uses an array of inducements and sanctions to help veterans toward sustainable positive behavior and reintegration into the community.
Established in January 2011, Veterans Court services began as a collaborative effort among traditional stakeholders and Veteran Affairs representatives. The stakeholders recognized the need to collectively address substance abuse, alcoholism, medical, and behavioral health issues endured by veterans, suffering from military service-related trauma. Eligible veterans receive treatment services through affirming veteran benefits through the VA and obtaining additional provider behavioral and medical health services and peer mentoring.
Drug Court
The Drug Court is a post-adjudication, non-adversarial program that uses a team approach to break the cycle of substance abuse and addiction. Through intensive treatment, drug testing and frequent court intervention, probationers are given the tools to lead a clean, sober, and crime-free lifestyle. Both the Criminal Department and the Family Department operate a Drug Court.
Established in April 1992, Drug Court offers a cognitive based, outpatient counseling and drug monitoring program for offenders. Participants enter into a behavioral contract with the Court that outlines the offender's responsibilities and goals within a specified timeframe. The Court regularly monitors participant compliance; incentives and sanctions are used to shape lasting behavior changes. Upon completion, participants may advance out of the program early, and could have undesignated charges reduced to misdemeanors.
Recently the Drug Court partnered with the Law Library Resource Center (LLRC) and AmeriCorps members to provide essay, resume building, mindfulness, and positive relationship classes as a program sanction. These classes promote skill building and knowledge while holding the participants accountable for their behavior.
Regional Veterans' Court
The Regional Veterans Court is a collaborative program between the Municipal Courts of Tempe, Chandler, Fountain Hills, Gilbert, Paradise Valley, the Scottsdale City Court, and the Cave Creek Consolidated Court.
The Court is the product of judges, prosecutors, defense attorneys, members of the Veterans Health Administration, the Department of Veterans Affairs Justice Outreach program, human service agencies and Mercy Maricopa Integrated Care, working together to assist veterans and their families moving from military service to civilian life.
Domestic Violence Court
The Domestic Violence Supervision Program is an Accountability Court with the goal of ending physical, emotional, and sexual abuse, and replacing it with new thinking, new behaviors, and new healthy relationships. The program is comprised of three principal components: enhanced supervision, victim outreach, and Offender Intervention programming.