Adult Drug Court holds commencement ceremony set Nov. 18 in Woodstock

The 22nd Judicial Circuit Adult Drug Court will hold a commencement ceremony at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 18, in Courtroom 204 of the McHenry County Government Center, 2200 N. Seminary Ave., Woodstock.

Director of the Office of Special Projects for the 22nd Circuit Scott Block and Trial Court Administrator James "Dan" Wallis will officiate the commencement ceremony.

McHenry County State's Attorney Louis Bianchi will be making comments as part of the program and Circuit Judge Charles P. Weech will be presenting graduation certificates to those individuals who have successfully completed the program.

This is the fourth graduation ceremony after being convened on Dec. 1, 2011. To date, 19 individuals who have worked extremely hard to change their lives and live in recovery have successfully completed this rigorous program involving comprehensive drug treatment, close supervision and full accountability.

Like the other 2,600 operational drug courts in the United States, the 22nd Judicial Circuit is a judicially-supervised court docket which reduces correctional costs, increases community safety and improves public welfare. In drug courts, drug-addicted individuals remain in treatment for long periods of time while under close supervision. Drug court participants must meet their obligation to themselves, their families and society. To ensure accountability, they are regularly and randomly tested for drug use, required to appear frequently in court for the judge to review their progress, rewarded for doing well and sanctioned for not living up to their obligations. Research continues to show that drug courts work better than jail or prison, better than probation, and better than treatment alone.

Drug courts are this nation's most effective strategy at reducing recidivism among seriously drug addicted, nonviolent offenders with long criminal histories. Nationally, 75 percent of individuals who complete drug court are not rearrested and drug courts have been found to save up to $13,000 for every individual they serve and return as much as $27 for every $1 invested. In May 2013, NADCP CEO West Huddleston said, "Drug courts are a proven budget solution and must be expanded. Drug Courts throughout the country are demonstrating that a combination of accountability and compassion should be the foundation upon which our criminal justice system handles drug addicted individuals. By treating our chronically addicted offenders, we can save vast amounts of money, protect public safety and reduce drug abuse in the community."

The 22nd Judicial Circuit Adult Drug Court is proud to say that 19 offenders will have successfully completed the program as of the forthcoming ceremony. Prior to participation in the Adult Drug Court program, those offenders accounted for 126 criminal misdemeanor, felony and driving under the influence arrests in McHenry County. Since participating, the same group has accumulated three subsequent arrests. Had the 19 offenders been traditionally prosecuted, they would have faced a minimum cumulative total of 51 years in the Illinois Department of Corrections at a cost to the state of Illinois of approximately $1,951,668.00.

For more information on the adult drug court program, contact Scott A. Block, Director, Office of Special Projects, 22nd Judicial Circuit, 2200 N. Seminary Ave., Woodstock, IL 60098, at (815) 334-4913, or sablock@co.mchenry.il.us.