Drug court recognizes 7 clean and sober graduates
By Bobbi Mlynar (Contact)
Originally published 01:38 p.m., May 16, 2008
Updated 01:38 p.m., May 16, 2008
The Fifth Judicial District on Thursday recognized seven area residents for completing the district’s 18-month Drug Court program. The graduation ceremony and reception, held quarterly, was in the Lyon County Courthouse.
The Drug Court, offered to eligible drug offenders, has become a role model for other Kansas judicial districts because of its high rate of success in preventing recidivism. Most of the program’s participants are first-time drug offenders and almost never include offenders charged with drug sales.
To graduate, participants must have been clean and sober for at least 6 months, according to Beverly Hilbish, Drug Court coordinator. They must be employed full-time, have paid off their case costs or made arrangements for those financial obligations, have worked through the program with a sponsor, and completed treatment and aftercare.
Graduates must have completed a relapse prevention plan to use when they are off probation, to keep them clean and sober.
They also must have completed a graduation application process, including an explanation of what they have learned through Drug Court, the benefits derived, and suggestions for improvements, Hilbish said. Quotes from several of the essays were read during the graduation ceremony.
“Their essays were just amazing, talking about things before, and how much happiness they have found in life,” Hilbish said. “Those are always very powerful because those people have seen a lot of changes.”
The program here has been so successful that other judicial districts are beginning to adopt similar programs.
“We are seen as kind of a role model or a leader in the state, and now Geary County is starting their drug court in June,” Hilbish said.
Cowley and Sedgwick counties each are creating drug courts modeled on the local program.
“It’s kind of exciting that they’ve noticed it and they’ve seen the successes and want to implement it in their counties,” she said.
Comments
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Posted by LilJHawkFan (anonymous) on May 16, 2008 at 9:42 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Congratulations to the graduates! I admire people who find the strength to change their ways for the better!! Good luck to all of you!
Posted by dhcc66 (anonymous) on May 17, 2008 at 6:33 a.m. (Suggest removal)
congrats to the graduates. well put liljhawk..it is the ones who really want to quit that can, and usually do. hope for them that it stays that way because of all the hard work they have done to get to this point.
Posted by tillie (anonymous) on May 17, 2008 at 9:16 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Why doesn't the Gazette publish the names and essays of the graduates, as did the Wichita Eagle?
Posted by Kstrebuchet (anonymous) on May 17, 2008 at 12:19 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Congratulations to the graduates,
"The Drug Court, offered to eligible drug offenders" is stated in the article. I do wonder how many were offered this as opposed to jail time? Did these offenders really have a choice to attend this program. it's nice to hear they are trying to turn their lives around But,Would they have done it on their own
Posted by explorer07 (anonymous) on May 17, 2008 at 2:39 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I know from personal experience that basically the only options for drug offenders in Lyon County is Drug Court or Prison, no matter if it's a first offense or greater.....Congrats to the grads.... This program is good but it does have alot of flaws that need to be addressed....If you know anyone in drug court you know what I mean......
Posted by horsequeen (anonymous) on May 17, 2008 at 9:20 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Congratulations all graduates.. I have to say because of this program I have my son back. This program has helped him to be the person I always knew he could be. So thank you lyon county for this program, it is awesome what it has done..
Posted by comfort_n (anonymous) on May 18, 2008 at 2:19 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I myself have been in the drug court program. I am soo thankful to the probation officers for helping me. I don't care how that sounds. These people really do care. If you don't see it that way more than likely you aren't doin what you should be doing. Flaws? I didn't really see flaws in the system I seen that people in drug court didn't really want to change their life style. and forced to do drug court? No really you have a choice if you don't want to be in the program after you have been given the OPPORTUNITY then you won't succeed. Simple as that. You then can go to prison and not have that chance to have freedom and the tools to learn how to handle freedom with out the use of drugs and our old lifestyle. This program gave me life and has given my kids at least one parent to raise them. I am first to say i made many mistakes. If it weren't for this program I would be doing the same things. I value life now and have bigger goals than I ever would have using. Thanks lyon county for that and keep up all you do. Congrats to the grads keep using the tools. and Good luck to the grads to come.
Posted by webejamn (anonymous) on May 31, 2008 at 2:05 a.m. (Suggest removal)
they are forced to write down what ever they think the drug court people want to hear so they can get as far away from the program as they can. the only people that really get anything from the program are the people that get a pay check from it. i loved the question they asked: "what have you learned throu drug court", answer: DONT GET CAUGHT! peace, from mr. 711 e. south ave.
Posted by create (anonymous) on May 31, 2008 at 7:24 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Shame on you, webejamn. I pity you for being so stupid. Drug court has put a lot of people back on their feet by allowing them to keep their jobs, and uniting families that would have otherwise suffered a great deal. Poor, poor children having to be taken away from parents and placed in the care of strangers. I don't guess people like you even think about the children who are at such great disadvantages when parents use. Users are losers, all the way around. Drug court benefits everyone. Even the taxpayers benefit when prison time is avoided and the children of users aren't having to be put in SRS custody and raised in foster homes, oftentimes away from their home communities. What a piece of work you are, webejamn.
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