Press Release
U.S. Embassy sponsors Barbados’ participation at Drug Court Conference
Bridgetown, Barbados, Thursday, June 11, 2009 – The Narcotics Affairs Section of the embassy of the United States of America to Barbados and the Eastern Caribbean has sponsored Mr. Victor Roach, President of the National Committee for the Prevention of Alcoholism and Drug Dependency (NCPADD) to attend the 15th Annual Conference of the National Association of Drug Court Professionals (NADCP) in Anaheim, California from June 10 to 14, 2009.
Mr. Roach will make a presentation to the workshop on the needs of Barbados and the Caribbean for a similar drug court.
Drug treatment courts are specialized community courts designed to help stop the abuse of drugs and alcohol and related activity. Non-violent offenders who have been charged with simple possession of drugs are given the option to receive treatment instead of a jail sentence.
The courts represent the combined efforts of justice and treatment professionals to actively intervene and break the cycle of substance abuse, addiction, crime, delinquency, and child maltreatment and have proven to be an effective and cost efficient way to help non-violent drug offenders commit to a rigorous drug treatment program in lieu of prison in the United States.
This program responds to priorities identified during Attorney General Eric Holder’s recent visit to Barbados. It is part of America’s continuing engagement with its Caribbean partners, which will be further strengthened through the Caribbean Basin Security Initiative that President Obama announced at the 2009 Summit of the Americas.