Friends of New Hampshire
Drug Courts
In the News/Press Releases
FRIENDS OF NH DRUG COURTS EXTENDS SUPPORT TO FEDERAL DRUG COURT
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CONTACT:
John P. Kacavas
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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
April 19, 2023
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CONCORD, N.H. – The Friends of New Hampshire Drug Courts expanded its services to participants of the federal drug treatment program known as the LASER Docket. As a result, the Friends will award grants to help those in the federal program gain employment, access transportation, sober housing, health and dental care similar to how it supports state drug court participants.
U.S. District Court in Concord created the LASER (Law-Abiding, Sober, Employed and Responsible) Docket in 2010 as a court rehabilitative program for defendants whose qualifying crimes or criminal history are attributable to drug abuse or addiction.
“The Friends of New Hampshire Drug Courts (FNHDC) is an invaluable support to drug court participants in our state. Thanks to FNHDC, federal LASER Docket participants now have access to important resources to help them succeed in recovery and maintain the LASER requirements to be law-abiding, sober, employed, and responsible,” U.S. Magistrate Judge Andrea Johnstone said.
“The difference that FNHDC can make for drug court participants with unmet health and dental care, housing or transportation needs, to name a few, cannot be overestimated. FNHDC’s work is critical to building community connection and caring for individuals in society,” Johnstone added.
The Friends’ decision to expand its support to federal drug court means the not-for-profit organization now serves participants of all treatment courts in New Hampshire: the state’s 10 drug courts, Sullivan County Family Treatment Court and U.S. District Court. In 2022, the Friends awarded 51 grants totaling $21,734.
“The success of drug treatment courts like the federal LASER Docket depends upon willing participants committed to the goal of recovery and the availability of financial and other supports to achieve that goal. The Friends recognize that social determinants like housing stability, reliable transportation, employment, day care, dental and health care, play a key role in successful recovery,” said former U.S. Attorney for the District of New Hampshire John P. Kacavas, who joined the Friends board in January and serves as its liaison to the LASER Docket.
“The Friends is so very pleased to extend its support to federal drug court participants, helping them to become law abiding, sober, employed and responsible members of society,” added Kacavas, now an attorney with Hinckley Allen law firm in Manchester.
For more information about the Friends, see www.friendsofnhdrugcourts.org.
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