The Williamson County DWI/Drug Court was presented the 2018 “Spotlight on Success Award for Outstanding DWI Court Team” during the DWI Court Team Advanced Conference, recently held in Austin. The award honored the DWI/Drug Court Team led by the Honorable Laura Barker, presiding judge of Williamson County Court at Law #2. The DWI/Drug Court model uses evidence-based standards to dramatically improve outcomes for individuals involved in the justice system due to substance use disorders. The Williamson County DWI/Drug Court is a multidisciplinary team that uses best-practices to change and save lives and provide a consistent approach that both enhances the individual’s opportunity to succeed and maximizes community safety.
The Williamson County DWI/Drug Court was established in November 2006, with the assistance of grant funding from the Office of the Governor-Criminal Justice Division. The program is designed to provide interventions for DWI/Drug offenders to help break the substance abuse cycle.
The Texas Center for the Judiciary presents the annual award to recognize the efforts of an exemplary DWI/Drug Court Team in the State of Texas. The Texas Center for the Judiciary promotes judicial excellence and education, so courts can administer justice with fairness, efficiency and integrity.
Pictured from left to right: Jameson Pennington, Assistant Director of Adult Probation; Maria Alfaro, Probation Officer for DDCP and Veterans Treatment Court; Lesli R. Fitzpatrick, DDCP Court Coordinator; Judge Laura Barker, Presiding Judge of DDCP and Veterans Treatment Court (holding award); Emily Klein, Wilco CSCD Treatment Counselor; Wrangler; Cole Spainhour, DDCP Criminal Defense Attorney; Dawn Huddleston, Assessment Counselor; Susan Stilz, Probation Officer/Counselor; Diana Sanchez, Veterans Treatment Court Probation Officer.