NEWS ADVISORY

Bernalillo County Metropolitan Court

To be recognized nationally as an exemplary
Adult Tribal Healing to Wellness Court

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE March 7, 2017

CONTACT: Ana-Lisa Montoya Torres (505) 938-4274

The Center for Court Innovation (CCI) in partnership with the Tribal Law Policy Institute has selected the
Bernalillo County Urban Healing to Wellness Speciality Court to showcase in the development of their
Healing to Wellness Court online curriculum. The curriculum will feature a series of video lessons on
topics relevant to treatment courts for adults and juvenile drug courts, veterans' treatment courts, and
mental health courts.

Filming of the Bernalillo County Urban Healing to Wellness Court will begin next week (March 15-17)
it will cover court sessions, graduate, participant and court staff interviews.  CCI wants to gather
professional footage of the Court in action and allow other courts nationwide to learn from one of the best
in the business.

The Honorable Maria Dominguez is the presiding Judge for The Bernalillo County Urban Healing to
Wellness Specialty Court. The Urban Healing to Wellness Specialty Court is a part of the Recovery Court
which follows a Drug Court Model. The Urban Healing to Wellness Court targets self-identified justice-
involved Native American adult residents. The Court recognizes the historical trauma experienced by
Native Americans and the importance of including culturally specific Native Practices. The program
requires a minimum of nine months of satisfactory participation to complete. All clients are required to
make regular appearances before the presiding Judge to discuss progress and must participate in intensive
culturally competent substance abuse treatment and ancillary services. Progressive rewards (or incentives)
and consequences (or sanctions) are used to encourage participant compliance with the Healing to
Wellness Court requirements. The frequency of court hearings is contingent on the participant's risks and
needs, treatment progress and program phase.
For more information on Speciality Courts visit the Courts’ website at www.nmcourts.gov
Media wishing to cover the event should contact Administration at (505) 841-8106 to obtain camera
clearance.

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