Graduations are a particular time for a lot of, and that’s no totally different for the current graduates of Oklahoma County’s Drug Courtroom program.
“Our therapy courts, it’s the final cease earlier than jail,” mentioned Decide Kenneth Stoner the presiding decide over Drug and DUI Courtroom in Oklahoma County.
Oklahoma County Drug Courtroom is a complete program that gives assist, therapy, supervision, and accountability as a substitute for conventional sentencing.
“Once they are available in, it’s fairly excessive stakes, we make a discount, which is, in case your profitable in this system your prices get dismissed should you fail this system you need to go to jail,” mentioned Decide Stoner.
For the reason that program began in 1997, over 2,300 women and men which have efficiently accomplished this system.
Shannon Garrison accomplished this system 4 years in the past however admits initially she struggled.
“I didn’t need to do any of the issues they informed me to do, I used to be very resistant and manipulative and tried to do issues my very own method,” mentioned Garrison.
After a few setbacks Garrison did graduate.
“It was an amazing scary feeling; trigger you’re going to lose all of the accountability and the drug check and the issues which have actually been in place to maintain you sober,” mentioned Garrison.
She now works for the Oklahoma County Well being Division as a neighborhood well being employee, serving to others overcome the identical challenges.
Assistant Public Defender Madison Melon is supervisor for all of the diversion applications in Oklahoma County, mentioned that Garrison is crucial to this system.
“I can care and love them, however I’ve by no means been the place they’re, and she or he has and it’s wonderful to see the connection she builds with them,” mentioned Melon.
“My entire life is predicated on serving to different individuals get sober, and actually, it’s a profit to me, as a result of it’s the one factor I’ve discovered that has stored me sober,” mentioned Garrison.
Garrison has been clear and sober for 4 years and says this system saved her life.
“My life wouldn’t have modified with out this program, I might nonetheless be doing the identical factor and possibly be in jail by now,” mentioned Garison.
Her recommendation for the present graduates of this system.
“I might inform them that a lifetime of restoration is best than something that you might think about and it’s value every thing,” mentioned Garrison.
This system is an 18 to 24-month program, nonetheless as soon as efficiently accomplished, the contributors information are cleaned.
