NORWICH – Since January 2004, Chenango County has provided drug treatment court. Monday, its fifth and largest class yet celebrated their graduation at the county courthouse.
“You should truly be proud of what you’ve accomplished,” said Karen Ambrozik, project manager for the Office of Drug Treatment.
Treatment court is a post-conviction probationary element – a year of intense supervision for people who have a history of drug-related crimes.
“It is designed to stop the revolving door of criminal-associated activity brought on by drug and alcohol abuse,” Drug Court Coordinator James Everard said. “What makes treatment court break the cycle is it’s a whole year of very intense supervision,” said Everard. While participating in treatment court, individuals are subject to random phone calls by probation officials, random house checks by police officers, continued group meetings and much more. A violation of the rules of treatment court leads to a stern warning and if participants fail to achieve the appropriate level of compliance, they are made to repeat the court or are sent jail or prison. Every violation must be explained to the judge in open court. Many participants have families they support economically as well as emotionally. The members of treatment court program must also remain employed and even after completion of the program, they remain on probation for many years.
“There is nothing more important than family and friends and the support you can get from them,” said Ambrozik.
The honorable Judge Howard Sullivan said half of all crimes committed involve drugs or alcohol. “Addiction is a disease,” said Sullivan. Treatment is less expensive than incarceration, he said. Every dollar spent on treatment of an individual saves between four and seven dollars imprisoning them, said Sullivan. To date, treatment court has spared Chenango County 17,003 days of incarceration, saving the taxpayers approximately $260,000, reported Sullivan.
Eight people graduated from treatment court this week. Among them was a couple, Mike and Kim. They had lost custody of their children and were unemployed at the beginning of their treatment. Now both are employed. They worked hard to regain custody of their children, said Everard. Kim also achieved her GED and is enrolled in college.
“It really makes a difference in your life,” said Kim. “It’s a hard program, but it’s worth it if you change,” said Mike. Another graduate said, “ You have to have the desire to change. If you have the desire then the court will drag you along the right path until you’re able to walk it on your own.”
Sullivan congratulated each graduate presenting them with a certificate, watch and some of his homemade bread. The courtroom was filled with friends and family showing their support and pride. Sullivan went on advising those still in court and those graduating to continue with their treatments and to be “vigilant.”
“Hopefully this is a way to change your life,” he said.