MEDIA ADVISORY AG TUESDAY, MARCH 14, 1995 (202) 616-2771 TDD (202) 514-1888 ATTORNEY GENERAL RENO AND ONDCP DIRECTOR LEE BROWN TO ATTEND D.C. DRUG COURT "GRADUATION" HOUSE ACTION THIS WEEK COULD CUT DRUG COURT FUNDING NATIONWIDE WASHINGTON, D.C. -- Attorney General Janet Reno, Office of National Drug Control Policy Director Lee Brown, and D.C. U.S. Attorney Eric Holder will attend an event Wednesday at which prosecutors, police and former drug addicts will show how the District of Columbia's drug court program can help get tough on drug criminals and return them to society clean and sober. Drug courts are designed to force criminals out of the cycle of drug addiction before they return to the streets. D.C.'s drug court, acknowledged as one of the nation's most innovative, assigns drug felons to a program of intensive coerced abstinence and treatment for up to eight months. Tomorrow's event will feature several participants who have completed the program successfully. The 1994 Crime Bill provided $1 billion in funding for drug courts, but the House of Representatives voted to defund the program after this fiscal year. This week the House is expected to vote on a proposal to eliminate this year's drug court appropriations, as well. WHEN: Wednesday, March 15 4 p.m. viewing only - no cameras 4:15 p.m. open to press and cameras WHERE: D.C. Superior Court, 500 Indiana Avenue Juror's Lounge, 3rd Floor Set-up questions should be addressed to Ulysses Hammond, 879-1700. Note: Camera operators may be asked to accommodate the request of certain program participants to protect their anonymity. This advisory is for planning purposes only, and is not for release or distribution. ### 95-137