About TASC

Purpose

The Texas Association of Specialty Courts (TASC) was founded to:

Increase local and statewide political, media and community awareness of the existence and success of drug courts;
Support legislation authorizing funding for the operation of drug courts;
Provide support for jurisdictions wanting to establish drug courts.

Mission

The Texas Association of Specialty Court Courts (TASC) builds and strengthens Texas specialty courts through collaboration, advocacy and education.

History

Drug Courts are special courts given the responsibility to handle cases involving chemically dependent offenders through an intensive supervision and treatment program. Based on an innovative program that was first developed in Miami in 1989, Drug Courts have received wide-spread attention as an effective treatment strategy for chemically dependent criminal offenders. Drug Courts attempt to solve some of the underlying problems leading to criminal behavior by forcing offenders to deal with their substance abuse problems. The design and structure of Drug Court programs are developed at the local level and reflect the unique strengths and needs of each community. Drug Court participants are subject to mandatory drug and alcohol testing and report frequently to the Judge and program staff. Drug Courts are not in adversarial relationships, rather all parties work together toward the long term sobriety of the participant - judges, treatment providers, probation officers, law enforcement officers and others.

Board of Directors 2019 – 2020

Executive Committee
President The Honorable B. Michael Chitty Kaufman County (972) 932-0257	President Elect Hank Judin Defense Attorney Dallas County 214-750-8555 / 214-668-4845
Vice President The Honorable Peter Sakai Bexar County 210-335-2300 / 210-887-6100	Treasurer Mary Covington Special Programs Manager Harris County 713-755-4610 / 713-859-8511
Secretary Erin Morgan Senior Probation Officer Travis County CSCD 512-854-5737 / 512-636-4516
Board of Directors
Region 1 Lesli R. Fitzpatrick Attorney at Law 512-426-5993 / 512-426-5993	Region 2 Elizabeth Cortright Attorney at Law Tarrant County (214) 679-6160
Region 3 The Honorable Jeff M. Addison Bowie & Red River Counties 903-627-6835 / 903-277-1143	Region 4 The Honorable John B. Board Potter County 806-468-5559 / 806-236-5444
Region 5 Faustino Lopez Deputy Director Hidalgo County 956-587-6016 / 956-655-1522	Region 6 The Honorable Paul White Angelina County 936-639-3913 / 936-465-2691
Region 7 Jose Montoya El Paso County 915-373-3361 / 915-232-7474	Harris County Jeannette Kolarik Program Director Harris County 832-927-4347
Bexar County The Honorable Ernie L. Glenn Bexar County 210-335-3065 / 210-863-3156	Dallas County Kimberly Duran Program Clinician Dallas County 214-653-3782 / 214-475-1055
At Large Place #1 Shay Rustam Assistant County Attorney Montgomery County 936-539-7828 / 281-352-9070	At Large Place #2 Lori Compton Captain/Assistant Jail Administrator Kaufman County 972-932-9721 / 903-519-0323
Executive Director Amber Gregory 936-294-3916 / 281-961-4404