In celebration of "National Drug Court Month," the Warren-Center Line Treatment Court will hold a special graduation ceremony on Tuesday, May 26 at 2 p.m. Treatment Court Judge Matthew Sabaugh will preside over the ceremony at the 37th District Court's Warren location.
The event will feature keynote speakers including Warren Mayor James Fouts, Macomb County Sheriff Anthony Wickersham, Warren Police Commissioner Jere Green and Warren City Attorney David Griem. In addition, Drug Court alumni and current graduates will address the audience. "Drug Courts Save" is the theme of the celebration.
National Drug Court Month was coordinated by the National Association of Drug Court Professionals (NADCP) to recognize the powerful impact drug courts have had on communities. Drug Courts are now recognized as one of the most successful criminal justice programs in the nation's history. The Warren-Center Line Treatment Court started in 1999 and was among the first drug courts in Michigan. Since then, there have been 395 successful graduates. Warren's program is currently among the largest in the state, treating 103 participants. The mayor recently proclaimed May as "Drug Court Month" in the City of Warren.
The drug court uses a wide array of resources including members of the judiciary, prosecution, defense bar, probation, law enforcement, mental health, social service, and treatment community. According to Sabaugh, "Our treatment court not only saves lives, they save taxpayers millions of dollars that it would cost to keep offenders in jails and prisons. The Warren-Center Line Treatment Court has saved taxpayers over 5 million dollars in incarceration fees alone."
Nationwide, 75 percent of drug court graduates remain arrest-free at least two years after leaving the program, according to the NADCP website. Rigorous studies examining long-term outcomes of individual drug courts have found that reductions in crime last at least three years and can endure for more than 14 years. The most rigorous and conservative scientific "meta-analyses" have all concluded that drug courts significantly reduce crime as much as 45 percent more than other sentencing options.
"We are very proud of our results, the recidivism rate for the last quarter was 8 percent, which means up to 92 percent of graduates will never see another pair of handcuffs. " said Treatment Court Program Director/Coordinator Tom Jekielek.
The graduation ceremony marks their completion of an intensive program of comprehensive treatment, close supervision, and full accountability. The Warren-Center Line Treatment Court saved them from serious substance abuse addiction and long prison terms.
According to Sabaugh, "Alcohol and drug addiction has taken a huge toll on individuals, families, and our community at large. Drug Courts work because they recognize that addiction is both a societal ill and a disease. Our program combines intensive oversight, testing and addiction counseling. The program is truly life-saving."
Nine men and women are expected to be among this year's graduates.
"We are so proud of our newest graduates and the overall success of our program. We will celebrate their recovery and the new life that comes with their sobriety," said Sabaugh.
Published: Mon, May 25, 2015
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