Attorneys Richard Taylor (left) and Kevin Batts (right)
The Tennessee Association of Drug Court Professionals has elected attorneys Kevin Batts and Richard Taylor to leadership positions in the statewide group. Mr. Batts will serve as president and Mr. Taylor will serve as vice president of the association in 2015.
Mr. Batts is director of the Drug Court in the 23rd Judicial District, serving five counties of Middle Tennessee. He is also an adjunct professor at Lipscomb University, where he teaches Legal Research, Evidence, and Ethics. Mr. Batts retired from the State of Tennessee in 2009 and was a long-time News Anchor for WSM Radio.
Mr. Taylor has been affiliated with the Tennessee Public Defenders Conference since 1997. He has been involved with drug courts since 1999 and served as the program coordinator and evaluator for the 23rd District Drug Court and the program manager for the Davidson County Drug Court. Mr. Taylor assisted the Tennessee Office of Criminal Justice Programs in presentations regarding program sustainability. He is a past member of the Drug Court Advisory Committee and has served as a delegate from Tennessee to Washington, D.C. for the Congress of State Drug Court Associations.
Mr. Batts and Mr. Taylor have both served on the TADCP Board of Directors for many years.
Tennessee Supreme Court Justice Cornelia A. Clark noted, “Mr. Batts’ forty years in public service have prepared him well to lead the Tennessee Association of Drug Court Professionals toward achieving its mission of promoting public safety, strengthening communities, reducing recidivism related to substance abuse through education, advocating the establishment and funding of drug courts, disseminating information and providing technical assistance and mutual support to association members. As a licensed attorney for twenty-three years, a retiree of the State Public Defenders Conference, Director of the 23rd Judicial District Drug Court, and an adjunct professor of law at Lipscomb University, Mr. Batts is uniquely qualified to serve in this leadership role. I congratulate Mr. Batts on his election as president of the Association and wish him much success during his term."
Mr. Batts and Mr. Taylor outlined their goals for the coming year. “Drug Courts in Tennessee have a proven track record of saving taxpayers money. A recent national study shows taxpayers get a seven dollar return for every one dollar invested in Drug Court. We have shown that treating people with alcohol and drug dependencies so they are less likely to re-offend is much more effective than incarceration alone. Our goal is to share the successes of drug courts with the policymakers of Tennessee. We will continue to demonstrate the cost-effectiveness of treating the illness of addiction in conjunction with the required judicial process. Drug Courts are widely accepted as successful alternatives by judges, prosecutors, defense attorneys, and the treatment community. We must continue to emphasize the success of Tennessee Drug Courts with elected officials and the public.”
Mr. Batts is especially impressed with Governor Haslam’s dedication to the Drug Court model. “Governor Haslam has created a top-level approach to fighting drug addiction in Tennessee. He has included Safety and Homeland Security Commissioner Bill Gibbons, Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services Commissioner Doug Varney, Correction Commissioner Derrick Schofield, T.B.I. Director Mark Gwyn, and several other high-ranking officials with a hands-on approach to address the problem of addiction. This is a critical issue that has plagued our state for decades, and I am pleased to see innovative actions to address drug addiction. Drug Courts are a major component of the Governor’s plan.”
"Drug courts integrate chemical dependency treatment and community resources with the criminal justice system. Drug Court participants are involved in counseling sessions to help them recover from their drug and alcohol dependency. The goal is to give these non-violent offenders a new lease on life, with the skills to be productive, law-abiding citizens.
"Drug Courts are a collaborative link between the courts, prosecutors, defense attorneys, law enforcement, probation officers, treatment providers, social service agencies, and community-based non-profit organizations.
"Drug Courts have proven to be effective alternatives to expensive incarceration. The programs require strict accountability from participants through frequent in-person court hearings and intensive monitoring. Drug Courts require total abstinence from illicit and illegal drugs and alcohol.
National statistics indicate that 75% of Drug Court graduates remain arrest-free at least two years after graduation. On average, Drug Courts across the country save taxpayers between $4,000 and $12,000 per participant by reducing the cost of trials and incarceration," officials said.