NMSC News:
ALBUQUERQUE — The Administrative Office of the Courts Therapeutic Justice Support Program is hosting the NM Alumni Summit at the Santa Ana Resort & Casino, May 4-6, 2026.
More than 265 people are expected to attend the summit, which will provide alumni, professionals, and families with professional development to enhance the support system for alumni and participants of treatment court programs in New Mexico.
“The Judiciary values the long-term successes of alumni,” said New Mexico Supreme Court Chief Justice Julie J. Vargas. “New Mexico is the leader in Treatment Court Alumni development, and this summit celebrates and builds on that designation as we empower each other to serve our communities.”
The keynote speaker is AllRise Director of Strategic Engagement Melissa Fitzgerald, who is an award-winning actor, producer, and New York Times bestselling author, widely known for her seven-season role as Carol Fitzpatrick on the television series, The West Wing. In 2013, Melissa stepped away from Hollywood to focus her energy on advancing responses to substance use and mental health disorders that emphasize treatment, recovery support, and accountability rather than incarceration.
New Mexico Treatment Courts, also traditionally known as Problem Solving Courts or Drug Courts, are overseen by a multidisciplinary team of professionals who treat justice-involved individuals with substance use and/or mental health conditions. They offer individuals the opportunity to enter long-term substance abuse treatment with court supervision rather than receiving a jail sentence. The intensive program requires participants to maintain recovery and take responsibilities to work towards lifestyle changes.
New Mexico has 57 treatment courts in 12 of the 13 Judicial Districts, serving 26 of 33 counties.
New Mexico Treatment Courts include:
- Adult;
- Young Adult;
- Juvenile;
- Family Dependency;
- Domestic/Family Violence;
- Veterans;
- DWI;
- Mental/Behavioral Health; and
- the Urban Native American Healing to Wellness Court.