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Council honors pilot sentenced-offender drug court and its graduates
Summary
Los Angeles City Council recognized a new sentenced-offender drug court program and its first graduates, highlighting an 18-month treatment alternative aimed at nonviolent felony drug offenders.
The Los Angeles City Council on July 28 recognized the city’s experimental sentenced-offender drug court program and presented certificates to judges and treatment partners who ran the program.
Councilmember Joel Feuer introduced Judge Mike Tynan and James Stilwell, executive director of the Impact Drug and Alcohol Treatment Center, and invited program graduates to the chamber. Feuer said the program represents a different approach in criminal justice: instead of imprisonment for certain nonviolent drug offenders, the court offers close supervision, treatment and a team-based, nonadversarial model designed to support recovery and reintegration.
Officials described the sentenced-offender drug court as an 18-month intensive recovery program that pairs judicial oversight with probation, treatment counselors and supportive services. Judge Mike Tynan, who helped found the drug court program, and Stilwell accepted council commendations and thanked the council for support. Several graduates were introduced and recognized during the presentation.
Councilmembers who spoke during the recognition emphasized the program’s role in reducing recidivism and expanding treatment alternatives. Councilmember Antonio Hernandez noted that the city contributed $50,000 from a criminal justice block grant two years earlier to support drug court efforts and urged continued financial partnership with the county to sustain and expand the program.
No formal council action or funding decision was taken at the ceremony; the session served as public recognition and a progress update.
