SOBER Court Officers are a compassionate force for change
Harris County has had a long-time problem with drunk driving. The SOBER Court, and the SOBER Court officers, are working to change that. Harris County has had a long-time problem with drunk driving. There are many reasons for this, most of them pretty obvious. We do not have a reliable, user-friendly public transportation system. We […]
A Personal Op-Ed from Devon Anderson
In January, Justice Forward CEO/President Devon Anderson wrote an op-ed in the Houston Chronicle about her belief in our treatment-based approach in the context of her own issues with alcohol. If you missed it in print, check out a selection below and read the entire article on the Chronicle. Most people locally know me as the former […]
Released to Fly: How I Overcame 40 Years of Addiction
My name is Lillian, and I am a person in long term recovery! In many ways, my journey through alcohol addiction is a common one, but the opportunities offered to me by Justice Forward and the Harris County STAR Drug Court have taken me on a new path that I had not dared to dream […]
Announcing Girls Moving Forward
A new pilot program created by Justice Forward will support girls mental health with specialized counseling. Nearly 30 percent of juveniles arrested are girls or young women, and their share of arrests, detainment, and court cases has steadily increased over the past two decades. Often girls of color and girls living in poverty, they are […]
We Wish You a Sober Holiday (and a Sober New Year!)
5 tips from a pro on how to navigate the holidays without alcohol I quit drinking 11 years ago. It was a hard decision and a difficult process, but it has been worth the struggle. My relationships with loved ones are so much better, and my health has vastly improved. But my social life? Well, that […]
Picnic for Progress: Raising Money with Socially Distanced Fun
Justice Forward typically raises the majority of its annual funds at a luncheon at the Junior League each October. That is our bread and butter, so to speak. However, this is 2020. Like every other nonprofit in town, we realized in late spring that a standard fall luncheon was very likely going to be […]
Ticket to Ride
Justice Forward has a new partner in making transportation accessible and accountable. Can you imagine living in Houston without a car? Sounds like a nightmare, doesn’t it? Especially since the only significant public transportation system we have is the METRO bus system. (I refuse to count the train as a “system.”) Taking a bus can […]
Recovery in the Time of Corona
Justice Forward has a new partner in making transportation accessible and accountable. We have all been tremendously affected by the pandemic this year. We have had to alter literally every aspect of our lives. Our jobs, our personal lives, and those of our kids have all been impacted by Covid-19. Specialty Court clients are no different. […]
Introducing Justice Forward
CEO Devon Anderson on Justice Forward’s growing mission and vision to transform the justice system in Houston. Under the leadership of Chair Deborah Keyser, the Foundation was doing well, but she and the Board of Directors had bigger dreams. They envisioned a fully functioning nonprofit complete with a paid staff and a much larger mission. […]
Understanding the Benefits of Drug Court Programs (Part One)
In our society, it’s widely believed that people who commit crimes should be punished for their actions, in the hope that the punishment will deter them from committing any future crimes. However, the general public may forget that some defendants in our criminal justice system are victims themselves, and they need help and treatment far […]
