Justice Forward Expands to Support Fort Bend County Specialty Courts

This week Justice Forward announced that it will provide support to participants in three of Fort Bend County’s specialty courts, which serve individuals with substance use disorders and mental health issues. Justice Forward is the first strategic alliance of its kind in Texas, and with its expansion to Fort Bend, it will further its mission to break the cycle of incarceration and help specialty court clients become independent, productive members of the community.

“In serving specialty courts in both Harris and Galveston County, we have seen the unquestionably positive impact that specialty counseling and individualized treatment has—not only for the individuals that we serve, but also for the greater community,” said Devon Anderson, CEO and President of Justice Forward. “We are looking forward to extending our support to the Fort Bend County Specialty Courts as they redefine the traditional justice system, which will inevitably reduce recidivism, improve public safety and transform lives in the process.”

Specialty courts help individuals with drug dependencies, mental illness and/or other societal challenges avoid incarceration by focusing on rehabilitation and introducing therapy-based solutions into the criminal justice system. Justice Forward supports specialty courts in Harris and Galveston Counties by funding a variety of support services for clients in and graduates of the programs, filling gaps between the court-mandated activities and successful independent living to ensure sobriety and/or success. Essential services and incentives funded include counseling, recovery coaching, job coaching, transitional housing, transportation vouchers, gift cards and scholarships for tuition assistance, workforce development training and testing fees.  

The Fort Bend County court system includes three specialty courts: the Felony Mental Health Court, a judicially supervised program for individuals diagnosed with mental illness or intellectual disability; the CORE Program, which aims to empower adolescents who have become or are at risk of human trafficking by providing healthy mentoring and support, professional counseling and educational activities; and the DWI Court, a comprehensive 12-24 month program for misdemeanor DWI offenders that offers individualized substance abuse treatment, education and peer support.

“The specialty court judges are excited to welcome Justice Forward to Fort Bend County,” said Judge Christian Becerra, Presiding Judge 434th District Court & Mental Health Court. “We know the support services they provide will enhance our programs and ensure our participants have the greatest chance for long-term recovery and mental wellness.”

Fort Bend County Specialty Courts have proven successful in addressing the root causes of substance abuse, mental health issues and other specific needs to ultimately change clients’ behavior. Justice Forward will be able to amplify that impact by connecting clients with funding and recovery resources.