( Air Date: 4/7/2006 )

 

Nine former offenders receive congratulations and a certificate for completing Buchanan County`s drug court program. Friends, family members, and other drug court participants came to hear emotional testimonies from the graduates and their probation officers. The graduates completed a strict program that requires random drug testing, full time employment, and either a high school diploma or GED.

 

Judge Patrick Robb says an offender must be a non-violent felon who has a history of drug or alcohol abuse in order to be accepted into the program. There must also be indications that drugs and alcohol are directly related to the individuals criminal behavior.

 

Graduation is an emotional day for many of the participants. Some have battled addiction most of their lives. One of those men, Fred Anthony, has been struggling to complete the program four years. As of today he`s been clean and sober for six months. Anthony was so excited about today`s graduation that he came to court one hour early. Anthony said, "It`s unbelievable, it`s been a very long road. I can`t believe I did this myself."

 

His probation officer seems just as proud as they stand side by side on Anthony`s graduation day. Anthony says he would likely be in prison or dead if it without the drug courts help. He gave an emotional testimony about turning his life around. As Anthony looks down at his graduation certificate he shows a sense of pride. Anthony said, "That piece of paper proves that I`m a better person

than I have ever been."

 

Judge Robb oversees half of the drug court`s cases. He says the program gives offenders an opportunity to be successful beyond probation. Robb said, "We want the individuals that graduate drug court to be tax payers who are working, paying taxes, and taking care of their families rather than tax consumers who are sitting in a penitentiary or jail." Anthony now works as a machinist and he says it`s the best job he has every had. He also says that he never would have been able to get the job if he was still abusing drugs and alcohol.

 

Graduates are placed on non-supervised probation once they complete the program. They will be randomly drug tested in about six months. If they pass and their probation officer doesn`t object they will be released from probation for good.