Pubdate: Tue, 09 Dec 2003 Source: Messenger-Inquirer (KY) Copyright: 2003 Messenger-Inquirer Contact: http://www.messenger-inquirer.com Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1285 Author: Justin Willis, Messenger-Inquirer DRUG COURT'S SIXTH CLASS HAS 14 GRADUATES The 14 graduates rewarded for their hard work and accomplishments Monday started their journey at least a year ago following a shared experience -- a drug-related arrest. The graduates represent the sixth class of Daviess County Drug Court, an alternative for nonviolent offenders whose addictions landed them in the court system. Monday's ceremony filled the fourth-floor courtroom of Daviess Circuit Judge Tom Castlen with a crowd of nearly 100 relatives, previous graduates and a small army of court employees, counselors and law enforcement representatives. Without the program, many of the participants would be in jail and continuing the struggle with their addictions, Castlen said. One of the graduates is now attending an Owensboro college on a sports scholarship. The intensive program requires participants to have and keep a job, acquire a GED, have random drug testing several times a week, meet with counselors, attend Narcotics or Alcoholics Anonymous meetings, keep a daily journal and meet with Castlen once a week. "These people down here, they really care about the whole system," graduate Elmo James said. "They're not just going through the motions. This whole program has gotten me back in touch with my spiritual life." James began the program in October and since then has overcome his methamphetamine addiction, he said. James said his life started over the day he was arrested by the Daviess County Sheriff's Department. Many of the graduates offered messages to relatives, workers in the drug court program, police or Castlen while accepting a plaque from Castlen. Graduates offered apologies and thanks to family members who stood beside them through addictions. One graduate, who is now attending college, toted his toddler-aged son to the front of the courtroom while another graduate said she hoped to now become more involved with her grandchildren. Kentucky Rep. Brian Crall attended the ceremony and offered the graduates words of guidance and support. Everyone has weaknesses and occasionally falls, Crall said. The important factor is not the fall, but whether someone is able to get back up and improve their life, he said. "I want to encourage you to deal with the wounds of your heart," Crall said. "Don't inoculate yourself from hurt. Pain is a condition of existence. The problem is not pain, but how we respond." When many of the participants start the program they are driven by the desire to avoid prison, Castlen said. Once the participants become graduates they are often motivated by other factors such as patching up the damaged relationships in their families, he said. The program is extremely strict, requiring a combination of supervision and introspection. The odds that a drug addict will become re-arrested is about 40 percent. But national rates about drug court show only a 2 percent recidivism rate, Castlen said. The program is hard, but not as difficult as living with an addiction, said graduate Renee Ford. "They do expect a lot out of you," Ford said. "It gave me a stable environment to get my life together. I had to face a lot of things inside me that I have run from." - --- MAP posted-by: Richard Lake