A shining example of that vision was Senator Crist’s statewide expansion of the drug courts that divert drug-addicted offenders from the criminal justice system and provide supervised community treatment services in lieu of incarceration.
Chief Judge Manuel Menendez, of the 13th Judicial Circuit, said “I was privileged to have been able to present this award to Senator Crist. He has indeed given us his tireless commitment to improving the court system in our state, and we are grateful for his service.”
Through Senator Crist’s leadership as Chairman of the Senate’s Committee on Criminal and Civil Justice Appropriations, he stayed true to his commitment to improve criminal justice laws, programs and efficiency to help reduce crime, and improve access to the courts.
“We are particularly grateful to Senator Crist that there were no further position cuts in the court system and that the proposal to eliminate a devastating number of employees and dollars from the Office of the State Courts Administrator was averted,” stated Florida Supreme Court Chief Justice Peggy Quince.
“In this ailing economy, we have had to work harder and smarter to ensure the safety of all Floridians and maintain access to justice”, said Senator Crist. “By working together to improve the efficiency and cost-effectiveness of programs and services within Florida’s justice system, we are keeping the doors to our courthouses open, law enforcement in our communities and the gates to our prisons shut.”
In addition to the State Courts award, the Florida Apartment Association honored Senator Crist as its 2009 Legislator of the Year at a special ceremony in Orlando, and Associated Builders and Contractors named the Senator a “Friend of Free Enterprise,” for 2009.
Throughout his legislative career, Senator Crist has received numerous awards from the courts, the Florida Bar, prosecutors, clerks, law enforcement, victim advocacy groups and others for his outstanding legislative leadership and accomplishments. These may be viewed at www.flsenate.gov.
