Press Release  Lowell District Court’s Drug Court is Certified

Lowell, MA — Lowell’s Drug Court team includes Justice Ellen Caulo, Probation Officer Kevin Boutilier, Specialty Court Coordinator Christie Hawkes, and Drug Court Clinician Amy Tuneburg.

Chief Mastandrea commended the Drug Court team on their efforts, “Due to the team’s hard work and dedication, this collaborative approach has certainly had a positive impact on the lives of those struggling with addiction in our community.”

The Drug Court Certification process is coordinated by the Center of Excellence for Specialty Courts and includes a document review of all manuals, handbooks, forms and orders as well as a multi-day site visit by a team of experts including a retired Massachusetts Drug Court judge and highly experienced Drug Court Probation Officer and Drug Court Clinician, according to Sheila Casey, Specialty Courts Administrator.

In addition to observing the pre-session staffing meeting and the Drug Court session, the Certification Review Team conducts interviews of all team members and some participants, Ms. Casey added.

The Lowell Drug Court, which meets weekly on Tuesdays, has been in place since April 2014.

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