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Drug court graduation something special
Published November 19, 2009
Tonight at the First Baptist Church in Scottsboro, there will be good times.
For a few people, it’s been a long time coming. The Jackson County Drug Court program will hold its first graduation tonight at the church. The first class will include seven individuals who’ve been at the depths of despair. Through prayer, hope, belief, committment, support, dedication and a little luck, they’ve pulled themselves up from the depths to see brighter days.
None as bright as tonight. It didn’t come easy, but to see felonies erased from records makes it worth it. Even more, to see families pulled back together is something special.
Drugs don’t differentiate between bad people and good people. Every single one of us, in some fashion or form, has been affected by drugs.
It can be tough. It can be devastating.
Drug court is not an easy program, just to keep yourself out of jail. It’s not supposed to be easy.
In Jackson County, drug court participants are fortunate, if they don't know it already. Each week, they stand before a man who cares. Circuit Judge John Graham genuinely cares.
You can tell it in his voice when something good happens during drug court. There’s a pride in him as he speaks.
You can tell it in his voice when something bad happens too — there’s a sadness.
It’s easy to say drug court is about keeping people out of populated prisons, and maybe that’s true to a point.
For Graham and others in the program, it’s more than that.
It’s about helping people get their lives straightened out. It’s about putting families back together.
Tonight is a monumental moment in Jackson County’s two-year-old program.
The seven graduates are proof it does work. They are also models for potential graduates.
They know what it takes to get there.
If you have some time tonight and get a chance, go join the fun and celebration tonight at First Baptist Church.
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