The History of Drug Courts in Bexar County
The first Drug Court in Bexar County was chartered in September of 2001 by Bexar County Judge Al Alonso. A ten-member team was trained and certified by the United States Department of Justice and the National Drug Court Institute, making the Adult Drug Court the first certified Drug Court in Bexar County.
Since the inception of that first Bexar County Adult Drug Court, Judge Alonso has led the initiative for the creation of three additional Drug Courts: Family, Felony and Veterans Courts. Subsequently, additional specialty courts have since emerged, and a widespread Therapeutic Justice movement within Bexar County's criminal justice system has developed.
Bexar County, Texas is one of many counties participating in a national therapeutic justice movement. Since the first Drug Court was founded in 1989, in Miami, Dade County, Florida, Drug Courts have grown to over 3,500 across the nation, over 100 in Texas, and 10 in Bexar County.
In 2010, the Therapeutic Justice Foundation emerged through the innovative judicial vision of Judge Alonso, in conjunction with a group of dedicated community leaders. Judge Alonso’s goal is for the Foundation to be a catalyst in raising enough funding toward having “self-sustaining” Drug Courts in Bexar County.
Since its inception, the Therapeutic Justice Foundation’s support of participants has significantly improved participant success rate.