Educate Your Member of Congress

Write to Congress
The more voices we have spreading the word about Drug Courts, the more we'll get done and the louder we'll be heard. You can help by writing a letter (or an email) in your own words to your Members of Congress or your state and local representatives. Encourage them to learn more about Drug Courts and increase funding appropriations in any way they can. Sign up for the Capitol Hill Insider to be informed when Drug Courts need your help.

 

Ask for a meeting - they work for you!
When our Congressional Representatives are on recess they frequently take meetings with their constituents and attend local events. That's when you can take the opportunity to talk with them about supporting Drug Courts. Introduce them to a graduate. Or even invite them to a graduation ceremony. Click here for Congressional contact information.

Through NADCP you can make sure you have the latest information about Drug Court appropriations prior to your meeting. While it is important to meet with Congressional Representatives who have supported Drug Courts in the past, it's also important to gain new supporters in Congress. The best way to win them over is to show them firsthand that their constituents are interested and involved.

 

How to Set Up Your Meeting
Each Member of Congress maintains a staff. Specific issues are assigned to individual staff members. In your initial call, ask for the person who is “responsible” for the Member’s Justice Department Appropriation work. When you reach the right staffer:

1. Tell the staffer who you are and that you would like to set up a meeting with your Member of Congress during the next recess.
2. Tell the staffer that you would like to update the Member on the Drug Court work in his/her community or state and discuss the federal funding. You can also invite the Member to speak at an upcoming graduation or event.
3. Ask for the staff person's email and/or fax number so that you may send a meeting request letter and a copy of the NADCP Brief, “A Drug Court in Reach of Every American in Need”.
4. Congress Members' appointments are set by staff members called “schedulers". The scheduler will be a different person than the staffer responsible for Justice Department Appropriation. Be sure to get the scheduler's name and contact information as well.
5. Pursue the scheduler to ensure the meeting has been arranged. Do not be afraid to call back or email if you do not get a response. Remember, this is YOUR representative. You have a right to meet with him or her. Ask if they received your request letter. If they did not, send it again until a meeting date and time is set.

Getting Ready for the Meeting
Once you have a meeting scheduled, NADCP will send legislative packets that you can pass on to your Congress Member. To receive these packets in time for your meeting, send an email to Chris Deutsch at cdeutsch@nadcp.org at least 7 days before the meeting date with the following information:

• Name of Member/Staff People
• Date, Time and Location of Meeting
• Number of Packets You Need

You can prepare for the meeting by visiting your local Drug Court and asking about their latest activities. NADCP can provide you with updated results from the newest state and national Drug Court research. During the meeting be sure to encourage your Member to, "Help us put a Drug Court within reach of every American in need."

Re-Confirming the Meeting
Congress Members' schedules are often rearranged at the last-minute. A couple days before the meeting, contact the staff person to confirm your meeting date and time. After your meeting, contact NADCP to share your experience. You may also want to consider contacting the local media outlets to share your thoughts about the meeting with other members of your community.