McHenry County Drug Court to welcome 10 new graduates at May 10 ceremony

In celebration of National Drug Court Month, the 22nd Judicial Circuit Adult Drug Court will hold a commencement ceremony at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, May 10, in courtroom 204 of the McHenry County Government Center, 2200 Seminary Drive in Woodstock.

The McHenry's Chief of Police John Jones and McHenry County State's Attorney Louis Bianchi will be keynote speakers as part of the program.

Circuit Judge Charles P. Weech will be presenting graduation certificates to those individuals who have successfully completed the program.

This is the court's seventh ceremony since it was founded in 2011. Ten men and women are expected to be among this year's graduates. The ceremony marks their completion of an intensive program of comprehensive substance use treatment, close supervision, and full accountability.

National Drug Court Month is coordinated on a national level by the National Association of Drug Court Professionals. This year, drug courts throughout the nation are celebrating National Drug Court Month with the theme: "Criminal Justice Reform in Action." The forthcoming ceremony is evidence of the tremendous impact the 22nd Circuit Adult Drug Court has had on our community and will send a powerful message that drug courts are a proven budget solution that saves lives, families, and state resources.

Today, 2,966 treatment courts are in operation in all 50 states, and U.S. territories, successfully treating close to 150,000 substance-addicted individuals each year. Since 1989, these courts have saved over 1.4 million lives and billions of tax dollars. Research continues to show that drug courts work better than jail or prison, better than probation, and better than treatment alone.

"Drug courts and other treatment courts are the most successful programs for seriously addicted individuals in our nation's history and represent true criminal justice reform in action," said NADCP CEO Carson Fox. "Drug courts and other treatment courts restore lives, reunite families, and make communities safer, all while saving money for taxpayers. Instead of punishment, these programs provide life-saving treatment to those who need it most."

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 re-arrested. Since its inception, the 22nd Circuit Adult Drug Court has recorded a 12-percent recidivism rate from those who have participated. Nationally 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.

A cost benefit analysis of the 22nd Circuit's Adult Drug Court was found to cost approximately $8,000 per offender as opposed to incarceration costs which are estimated anywhere between $25,000 and $38,000 per year.

For information on the 22nd Judicial Circuit Adult Drug Court Program, contact Jason G. Sterwerf, Director of the Office of Special Projects, 22nd Judicial Circuit, at (815) 334-4913 or jgsterwerf@co.mchenry.il.us.