Michigan City , IN – Former Indiana Attorney General Karen Freeman-Wilson, at a press conference today, endorsed Democrat Robert “Z” Szilagyi for Prosecutor specifically citing his “unwavering support” for a new Drug Court for LaPorte County. Freeman-Wilson, now a Gary attorney and national drug consultant, served as chief of the National Association of Drug Court professionals for five years.

Said Freeman-Wilson, “Drug courts are a shining example of what works in the justice system and only one of the two candidates for Prosecutor has been a strong promoter of these – Bob Szilagyi. For these courts to work, we need support from Prosecutors, judges, the defense bar, mental health professionals and probation to take a team approach. Bob Szilagyi has backed drug courts for years and has stressed the team model to law enforcement in his campaign for Prosecutor.”

Szilagyi, in accepting Freeman-Wilson’s endorsement, said he was “both honored and humbled to have the former Attorney General’s support. Today there are 2,400 drug courts operating in in the U.S. Drug courts improve communities by successfully getting offenders clean and sober and stopping drug related crime, reuniting broken families, intervening with juveniles early and reducing impaired driving.”

Freeman-Wilson said her experience heading the national drug court program has taught her that “these programs pay for themselves and they use both accountability and treatment to compel and support drug-using offenders to change their lives. This leads to a long-term positive impact in the community.”

Szilagyi noted at the press conference, which was held at Councilman Willie Milsap’s 5th Ward offices, that “now there is also a new generation built on the drug court model including veterans’ treatment courts. As a retired army reservist, I see how important it is that we link critical services and provide the structure needed for vets who are involved in the justice system due to substance abuse or mental illness to resume life after combat. With problem solving courts such as drug courts and veterans’ courts, we can provide much needed services and get a real handle on these problems, rather than just kicking the can down the road and putting off any real hope for success and improvement.”


# # #

Watch the Press Conference Here



Click to view attachment