61st and 364th

The Oakland County Adult Treatment Court (ATC) conducted its 61st graduation since its inception in August of 2001. The 353rd through the 364th graduates were honored with a ceremony and reception on Wednesday, Jan. 22, in the Oakland County Commissioners Auditorium at the Oakland County Courthouse in Pontiac. Presiding over the graduation were Oakland County Circuit Court Judges Jeffrey Matis (far left) and Phyllis McMillen (second from right), and Oakland County Circuit Court Chief Judge Shalina Kumar (far right). The ATC has served 834 participants to date and offers a sentencing alternative for non-violent felony offenders with serious substance abuse problems. The program’s focus is to intervene in the substance abuse and eliminate criminal activity through intense court supervision and utilization of various recovery and counseling services. Beyond the extremely close judicial and community supervision and the intense substance-abuse treatment, frequent substance abuse testing is required. In addition, the participants are expected to find and maintain employment, pay court costs, including restitution to the victims of their crimes, and take responsibility for the support of their children.

– Photo by John Meiu