Two county drug courts within the 37th Judicial Circuit court system recently held graduation ceremonies for participants who successfully completed a course of substance abuse treatment.
The program is meant to provide an alternative to jail or prison sentences for drug-related crimes, and support efforts to avoid future substance abuse, mend personal relationships and maintain steady employment.
The Howell County Adult Drug Court was introduced in 2012, and in 2018, Presiding Judge Steve Privette expanded it to the entire 37th Circuit, which also includes Carter, Shannon and Oregon counties.
On Aug. 3, the Oregon County Adult Drug Court held a ceremony to celebrate its third graduate from the program in just under four years.
Drug court officials pointed out that, more than 30 years ago, the first drug court was established with the goal of preventing repeat drug offenders with long histories of addiction and crime from continually cycling through the justice system. Instead, those people are offered the option of long-term treatment, combining compassion and accountability.
Such rehabilitative programs not only save lives, but taxpayer resources by reducing exorbitant criminal justice costs, drug court officials said, adding that national data reflects a reduction in recidivism, or a return to criminal activity, of up to 58% and an average savings of $6,000 per participant.
Several years ago, officials said, a young woman entered a local drug court program. She had been arrested repeatedly and charged with different offenses, but substance use was “the common thread among them all,” and nothing changed until she faced the possibility of years in prison and got the chance to participate in drug court. There, she met regularly with a case manager and received treatment and counseling.
With the help of the drug court team, she began to put her life back together, officials said. She completed the program and reconnected with her children and her family, and today is described as happy, healthy, employed and contributing to the community in which she lives.
This is just one of the thousands of individual stories that demonstrate why treatment courts are so critical in the effort to address addiction and related crime, officials said, adding that according to the National Association of Drug Court Professionals, drug courts are the single most successful criminal justice intervention for seriously addicted offenders.
According to that association, drug courts are proven to save lives and money, and reduce crime; address mental health needs; deliver services for lifelong recovery; secure education, employment and housing; produce tax-paying, productive citizens; break the cycle of addiction in families; reduce rearrests and reincarcerations, as well as substance use, overdose and emergency room admissions; and reducing foster care placement.
There are over 4,000 drug courts in the U.S. serving 150,000 people each year, officials said.
Oregon County Adult Drug Court team members are Associate Circuit Judge Harvey S. Allen, Prosecutor Jason Kelley, defense counsel Larry Burton, Sheriff Eric King, probation officer Jessica Brown, treatment program Director Dr. Ken Tombley, case manager Chris Johnston, tracker James Martin, Court Clerk Betty Grooms and treatment court Coordinator Lois Ann Price.
On Aug. 16, the Howell County Adult Drug Court held a ceremony to celebrate its 28th graduate from the program in just 10 years, and the third graduate this year.
As with other drug courts, it is designed to reduce recidivism and incarceration, presenting an alternative “intended to lead people with substance use and mental health disorders out of the justice system and into lives of recovery and stability through a combination of court supervision, group meetings, drug testing, counseling, structure and accountability.”
Drug court officials said the team aims to work from a place of balanced compassion, kindness and accountability, resulting in people reunified with their children, gaining meaningful employment, and becoming proactive members of society.
Court officials also said some participants enter the program with the belief there are too many requirements, and that drug court is punishment because of the high level of supervision, frequent court appearances and daily tasks. According to officials, participants often admit it would be easier to accept probation or the terms of the criminal court, but drug court allowed them to make changes that will last a lifetime.
The Howell County Adult Drug Court team is Associate Circuit Judge David Ray, Prosecutor Michael Hutchings, defense counsel Ray Williams, Officer Brown, Tombley, case manager Jordan Land, tracker Shawn Brunson, Court Clerk Allyson Bice and Price.
Anyone interested in supporting the efforts of local drug court program may call 417-256-2432 to find out how to help.
