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Press Release

U.S. Attorney’s Office Joins National Prevention Week Celebrations Across the Country, May 7-13

For Immediate Release
U.S. Attorney's Office, District of Utah
Encourage Healthy Decision Making, Celebrate Prevention and Bring Together the Community

Salt Lake City, Utah – Today, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Utah joins communities across the country in celebrating the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) National Prevention Week 2023. The goal of this annual recognition is to increase public awareness and action around mental and substance misuse disorders.

Focusing on reducing recidivism, U.S. Attorney Trina A. Higgins is focused on making Utah communities safer by focusing on prevention efforts within the district’s reentry courts. Within the District of Utah there are five specialty courts, Drug Court, Behavioral Health Court, Tribal Court (TCRC), Alternative Conviction (UACT), and Veterans Court. Reentry is the transition period when a person is under supervision following release from incarceration and placed back into the community. During this transition, a probation officer is assigned to supervise, monitor, and develop a plan that addresses the clients’ needs and satisfies the conditions of their release. 

Charlie Wiscaver, a recent graduate of Veterans Court, shares his story after he was indicted by a federal grand jury and prosecuted by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for financial fraud in 2020.

 “I believe it changed my life around 100 percent,” said Wiscaver. “VA Court was so centralized and individualized I was able to address everything that was getting to me along with my substance abuse.”

Watch Wiscaver’s full story here: https://youtu.be/TGulNkbtVTg

Graduate of Veterans Court

Each year, SAMHSA’s National Prevention Week showcases the work of communities and organizations across the country dedicated to raising awareness about the importance of substance misuse prevention and positive mental health.  For more information about SAMHSA, visit https://www.samhsa.gov/prevention-week.

Contact

Felicia Martinez
Public Affairs Specialist
Felicia.martinez@usdoj.gov
(801) 325-3237
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Updated May 8, 2023

Topics
Opioids
Financial Fraud
Component
Press Release Number: 23-34