Berks County judge announces AOPC certification for drug and DUI courts
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Summary
Judge Geisshauser told commissioners that Berks County’s drug and DUI treatment courts completed a rigorous pilot certification with the Administrative Office of Pennsylvania Courts, citing lower recidivism and reduced jail bed days as program outcomes.
Judge Theresa Geisshauser told the Berks County Commissioners on Feb. 19 that the county’s drug court and DUI court have received certification under a pilot program run by the Administrative Office of Pennsylvania Courts (AOPC).
Geisshauser said the county was one of six courts across the Commonwealth chosen to participate in an early certification process, which examined program operations and outcomes including entry timelines, length of participation, use of sanctions and incentives, frequency of probation contacts, testing, and treatment dosing. "It was very, very deep dive into our program, and I am very proud that we came out on the other side of that, and we are now certified," she said.
The judge credited court staff and partner offices — including the district attorney and public defender — for helping implement the program and for cooperating with the review. According to Geisshauser, certified programs showed lower recidivism: "with our 3 year look backs for most of our courts, we're in single digits for recidivism," she said, adding that the approach reduces jail bed days and returns participants to work and family life.
Commissioners and staff praised the court team and emphasized the program's intensity and oversight. Geisshauser described the courts as treatment-first programs for defendants whose substance use disorder drives criminal behavior and said they do not accept individuals charged with violent offenses or statutorily prohibited crimes. "We are in their business every day... 24 hours a day, 365 days of the year," she said, summarizing the program’s close supervision.
The judge noted that future certification work will include other specialty dockets such as mental health and veterans courts. The presentation was framed as recognition of program rigor and as a model Berks County will highlight at an April 8 prison board presentation.
The commissioners did not take a formal vote on the certification during the meeting; the appearance was a presentation and acknowledgment by the board. The next procedural step noted on the record was inclusion of the treatment court highlights in the April 8 prison board agenda.