The Adult Drug Court Program invites the public to celebrate the completion of its program by 11 participants. The graduation will take place Friday, Oct.18 at 2:30 pm at the Jury Selection room on the ground floor of the Humboldt County Courthouse. Members of our community will share stories of these incredible people who were successful in changing their lives, fighting for sobriety through setbacks and personal challenges.
The Humboldt County Probation Department is proud to celebrate almost 550 participants who have successfully completed the program since its inception in 1997. All graduates were addicted to methamphetamine, heroin, alcohol, prescription pills or a combination thereof, and found themselves entangled in the criminal justice system. Drug Court offers all participants the opportunity to change their lives.
Drug Court is an 18-month program with intensive supervision, frequent drug and alcohol testing and supportive interventions and therapy. Each graduate had to appear before the Court and report to the judge on their progress, or lack of progress, throughout the 18 month program. Many who enter the program do not succeed. Many reject the offer while in jail because they have heard how difficult it is.
All of the recent graduates completed a residential treatment program and transitioned into the community with job requirements. All graduates are now employed and are making restitution payments to the county and their victims. Many have obtained their California driver’s license and addressed personal goals such as reunifying with family who, for the most part, believed their loved ones would end up dead. All have goals and dreams for the future.
According to the National association of Drug Court professionals, statistics show that 75 percent of Drug Court graduates will never return to the criminal system. What statistics do not reflect is the effect their transformation has on their family, their children, friends and their community. They inspire all those around them to believe in the ability we have as human beings to overcome horrible abuse, pain and suffering and face our demons without the coping mechanism of intoxicating substances.
These local super stars have been successful in changing their lives, and even when they suffered setbacks, they did not give up but continued in their fight for sobriety.
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For more information, contact Shaun Brenneman, Chief Probation Officer 707-268-3308