Judge Charles Burns Speaks on the Great Role Played by PSCs to Support Victims of Drug Abuse in Illinois
Drug overdose is acknowledged as the primary cause of mortality in the US. As reported the number of deaths caused by drug overdose has escalated by 4.8% with a total number of 70,630 deaths against the statistics of 2018 and increasing at a scary rate. In this regard, the role played by Problem-Solving Courts, an especially dedicated criminal court is remarkable from its inception. It is entirely focused on treating people struggling their life with ailments and disability due to drug abuse. While speaking in a Press Conference, Judge Charles Burns highly appreciated how these drug courts are working to provide necessary support and save the victims as well as defendants of drug abuse all around Illinois.
Judge Charles Burns Highlights on the Services of Rehabilitative Alternative Probation and Woman’s Rehabilitative Alternative Probation Program in Cook Country
Being the Chairperson of Cook County’s Rehabilitative Alternative Probation (RAP) and Women’s Rehabilitative Alternative Probation (WRAP) programs Charles Burns has been actively involved with the program for the last eight years. On completion of his B.A. Degree from Xavier University, Burns earned a J.D. from Loyola University School of Law. He served as Cook Country State’s assistant attorney for a long 16 years and was thereafter elected as the circuit judge in 1998. Referring to the function of the drug courts, in a statement Judge Charles Burns says “criminal justice reform at its finest”.
It is under his insightful leadership; the Rehabilitative Alternative Probation and Woman’s Rehabilitative Alternative Probation treatment courts have been honored as national mentor courts consistently three times by the Bureau of Justice Assistance. Of late, burns is being considered for induction with the prestigious award into the Stanley Goldstein Treatment Court Hall of Fame. Held at RISE23 on 29, 2023, this remarkable ceremony IN acknowledged as a globally distinguished conference which is dedicated to addiction, psychological health, and justice reform.
For over a decade, Burns has been devoted to operating the drug court program at the Leighton Criminal Courthouse as a mentor, guide, and reformer for defendants struggling their lives with substance abuse and being sentenced. The (W) RAP program organized by Judge Charles Burns is a great alternative sentencing endavor for people who are involved in non-violent drug-related felonies. Individuals who participate in the program are required to go through four phases in its course consuming around 24 months.
Noteworthy, depending on the dedication of an individual the course can be completed quicker than its normal duration. The phases that come into the program include addiction treatment, involvement in self-help groups to avoid relapses, transition seminars, employment, and eventually removal of the victim’s name from the record of convictions. Equipped with a highly knowledgeable and dedicated pool of professionals including state attorneys, Public defenders, Probation Officers along the Judge, the program puts its best effort into the support of thousands of victims of drug abuse and aims to let them live a quality life.
Most importantly, since the initiation of the (W) RAP program, both its outcome and reach have gone through a revolutionary improvement because of the innovative approach of Burns towards informed care for trauma, medication for drug abuse, and its deadly effects on human health backed by comprehensive rehabilitation program aside from housing and employment assistance.
