SANTA FE, N.M. — A New Mexico court program manager and longtime recovery advocate has received a national award recognizing his work in treatment courts and substance use recovery programs.
Carlos Gonzales, a statewide program manager with the Therapeutic Justice Support Program at the Administrative Office of the Courts, was recently inducted into the Stanley Goldstein Treatment Court Hall of Fame during the Rise26 national conference in Nashville.
According to the Administrative Office of the Courts, Gonzales is the first treatment court graduate to receive the honor from All Rise, the national organization formerly known as the National Association of Drug Court Professionals.
Gonzales joined the Administrative Office of the Courts in 2021 and oversees alumni and peer-support initiatives for treatment court programs across New Mexico. His connection to the treatment court system goes back more than two decades. He graduated from the First Judicial District Court Adult Drug Court in 2001 and has since served as a mentor, alumni leader, certified peer support worker, and licensed drug and alcohol counselor.
In a statement, Gonzales said the recognition reflects the work of treatment court professionals and alumni across New Mexico who help individuals pursue recovery.
One of Gonzales’ most notable accomplishments came in 2023, when he established New Mexico’s first treatment court alumni summit, which court officials say was the first event of its kind in the nation. The state now has 33 alumni groups operating within its 58 treatment court programs.
Administrative Office of the Courts Director Karl Reifsteck credited Gonzales with helping expand the use of peer support services in treatment courts both in New Mexico and nationally.
Treatment courts provide alternatives to incarceration for certain offenders by combining treatment, supervision, regular court appearances, and accountability measures aimed at addressing substance use disorders, mental health challenges, and other underlying issues.
