Supreme Court of Florida

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1 Supreme Court of Florida FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 5/6/2009 Contact: Aaron Gerson, Office of State Courts Administrator (850) Chief Justice Addresses 10th Annual Statewide Drug Court Graduation As Florida Celebrates 20th Anniversary of Creation of Nation s 1st Drug Court TALLAHASSEE Since the first drug court in the country was created in Miami 20 years ago, tens of thousands of Floridians have graduated from drug courts all around the state, saving lives, healing families and strengthening communities. Their courage and tenacity will be celebrated when Florida marks the 20th anniversary of drug courts during the 10th Annual Statewide Drug Court Graduation on Friday, May 15th, at 9:30 a.m. in Miami. Florida Chief Justice Peggy A. Quince will address the newest graduates people in 33 different drug courts from the Panhandle to the Keys. Prior to the graduation ceremony, the National Association of Drug Court Professionals will hold a press conference in front of the Miami-Dade Courthouse, 73 West Flagler Street. The press conference will begin at 8 a.m. The 10th Annual Statewide Graduation is part of Florida s celebration of National Drug Court Month and May 15th is National Drug Court Commencement Day. The statewide graduation, which is being hosted by the 11th Judicial Circuit, will be webcast at After the statewide graduation, the 33 drug courts will continue with local graduations. The participating drug courts are in Escambia, Okaloosa, Leon, Marion, Baker, Sarasota, Manatee, Hillsborough, Bay, Palm Beach, Monroe, Broward, Brevard and Miami-Dade Counties. Florida was the pioneer in the development of treatment-based drug courts, which provide non-violent drug-related offenders with intensive treatment and judicial supervision in lieu of incarceration. Twenty years after the first drug court was created in Miami, drug courts continue to demonstrate their effectiveness through significant reductions in recidivism. They also have proven to reunify families and restore justice within the community. There are more than 2,300 drug courts across the country. In Florida, more than 25,600 people have graduated from a drug court in just the last five years. Florida currently has 108 drug courts within the state s 20 judicial circuits representing 46 of its 67 counties. Florida also has several different kinds of drug courts: pre-trial diversion drug courts for first-time adult offenders, post-adjudicatory drug courts for non-violent offenders with

2 prior convictions, juvenile drug courts, re-entry drug courts, DUI drug courts, family dependency drug courts and misdemeanor drug courts. Just this spring the Florida Legislature s Office of Program Policy Analysis & Government Accountability reported that drug-addicted offenders who successfully complete post-adjudicatory drug courts in Florida were 80 percent less likely to go to prison over a threeyear period than the matched comparison group. The remarkable success of drug courts can be measured in statistics and also in the stories of people whose lives were transformed. People like Gadsden County Sheriff s Deputy Thomas Henry, who graduated from drug court in 1998, and Bobby Robinson and Linda Walker, who graduated from drug court in Or Elyse Dermer, who graduated from a drug court in 2006, and Lindsay Peters and Jeff Jones, who graduated last year. ---Ms. Dermer, 46, describes her addiction as a living nightmare. And it wasn t until she was arrested, incarcerated and ordered by the court into treatment that she was able to wake up. She graduated from drug court three years ago and is now an exemplary and enthusiastic employee at the Miami residential treatment program where she was able to recover. She believes her greatest accomplishment has been healing her relationships with her three sons and other family members. ---Deputy Henry, 26, often says that drug court was the best thing that ever happened to him. He was 16 when he was arrested for possession of marijuana less than 20 grams and paraphernalia. He entered the juvenile drug court program in Leon County in February While in the program, he decided to turn his life around and graduated successfully from drug court and high school. He went on to train as a police officer and has been a deputy with the Gadsden County Sheriff s Department since He speaks to the teenagers now in drug court about choices and consequences. ---Mr. Robinson, 57, graduated from Felony Drug Court in Broward County in March 2000 following an arrest for possession of cocaine. When he went to drug court, his record included a college degree, honorable discharge from the military and several prison stays. Six years later, he added something else to his record: recognition by former Gov. Jeb Bush as one of 13 drug court alumni honored for outstanding contributions and service to the recovery community in Florida. Mr. Robinson, who was recently certified as a recovery support specialist, is currently working to become certified as an addiction counselor. He works for the Broward Outreach Center, providing services for people who are homeless and addicted. He also brings recovery services to the Felony Drug Court as well as into the jail and to the homeless. ---Ms. Walker, 44, gives back to her community in many different ways. Have you talked to Linda Walker? is frequently heard when organizations tackling drug abuse in Hillsborough County find themselves with a question or a problem related to housing and other community resources. A former cocaine addict, Ms. Walker graduated from the Adult Post- Adjudication Drug Court in the 13th Judicial Circuit in May For the last six years, she has been the house manager and program manager at a woman s recovery house and a member of the Hillsborough County Homeless Coalition.

3 ---Ms. Peters, 20, began using alcohol and marijuana when she was 15. By the time she was 16, she had moved on to cocaine and Xanax daily. She was referred to drug court in Palm Beach County and began outpatient treatment but was arrested for the second time on another felony drug charge less than two weeks later. She was put in a residential program but was discharged a few weeks later because she refused to follow the rules. Next came several weeks in jail, which Ms. Peters calls the best thing that could have happened. In jail, she promised herself she would finish treatment if she was given another chance. She was and she did, in March Mr. Jones, 45, graduated from drug court in Leon County last year. His substance abuse began 33 years earlier, when he was a 12-year-old boy who gave into peer pressure to try marijuana. With the exception of just a few clean months, his substance abuse continued over the next three decades. He abused alcohol, pills and cocaine as well as marijuana but managed to function well enough to work and pay his bills. Finally in November 2006, he was arrested, which he now believes was the best thing that could have ever happened to him. After he was released, he seriously considered killing himself but instead called Narcotics Anonymous. He was accepted into drug court and graduated in January He is active in NA and works to get meetings into the Leon County Jail. He has also resumed relationships with family members he hasn t talked to in years. He describes himself as a grateful recovering addict. The 10th Annual Statewide Drug Court Graduation will begin at 9:30 a.m. ET on Friday May 15 in the Miami-Dade County Commission Chambers, 111 NW 1st Street. Senior Judge Jeffrey Rosinek and Circuit Judge Deborah White-Labora will preside. In addition to Florida Chief Justice Quince, speakers include retired Gen. Barry McCaffrey, former director of the National Office of Drug Control Policy, and Bill Janes, director of the Florida Office of Drug Control. For more information on Florida drug courts, go to: OUTSTANDING DRUG COURT GRADUATES Name and age Bobby Robinson, 58 Date of Graduation from Drug Court: March th Judicial Circuit Broward County Drug Court Broward County Bobby is a college graduate, an honorably discharged veteran who had been to prison several times before he entered drug court. Since graduation, Bobby was recognized by Gov. Jeb Bush for his outstanding contributions and service to the recovery community in Florida.

4 Bobby continues his service by bringing recovery meetings to drug court, jails, and to the homeless that he feeds. Bobby runs the Marijuana Anonymous meeting every Sunday evening for the Misdemeanor Drug Court, and is a speaker for their monthly graduation ceremonies. Bobby has his own lawn service and has achieved one of his dreams in recovery by becoming the resident manager of a men s halfway house. He currently works to provide services for the homeless and addicted population of Broward County. Bobby volunteers at his church, mentors at risk teenagers, and went back to school to be certified as a recovery support specialist. He is continuing his education in the field of addiction and is working to become a certified addiction counselor. Bobby is a proud grandfather of four, and he assists his daughter in law school which she graduated in December of Bobby has been clean and sober since Name and age: Thomas Henry, 28 Date of Graduation from Drug Court: May nd Judicial Circuit Leon County Drug Court Gadsden County Upon admission into drug court, Thomas made the decision to turn his life around and commit to a substance free lifestyle. Thomas provided a positive role model for the other participants by his conduct and personal goals that he set for himself. Thomas graduated successfully from the program in the minimum amount of time required. During this same time period Thomas graduated from high school and went on to attend college. Because of his excellent grade point average, he was recently accepted into the Phi Beta Kappa Honor Society for College Students.

5 Thomas entered the police academy and began to work with the Tallahassee Community College Police Department and currently works as a Deputy in the Gadsden County Sheriff s Department. Deputy Henry has proven that he is an asset to his community. He is often seen checking in with local businesses, to see if they need any help, especially those that close at late hours. With full support from Sheriff Morris Young, Deputy Henry volunteers to help the youth in drug court by speaking about decision making and making the right choices. Deputy Henry has displayed by his exemplary example not only as a teen but as an adult, that one can face adversity, make a conscious decision to place positive changes in one s life, move forward with goals, and on the way make an impact in one s community. He has expressed that attending drug court was the best thing that ever happened to me and helped set him on the right path in his life. Name and age: Robert Jones, 46 Date of Graduation from Drug Court: January nd Judicial Circuit Leon County Drug Court Leon County Robert believed that he could use drugs successfully but later realized his arrest was the best thing that could ve happened to him even though his first reaction was to consider suicide. Instead he called the Narcotics Anonymous helpline and attended a meeting that night and regular meetings thereafter. He was also accepted into drug court. As Robert learned things in drug court and started applying them in his life, the quality of his life began improving. He progressed through the phases of drug court and become involved in NA service. Robert now is the Hospitals and Institutions Chairperson for the Big Bend Area of Narcotics Anonymous where he works with the volunteer services coordinator at the jail to provide literature for inmates. He makes sure that

6 there are other volunteers for NA to help carry the message of recovery into the jail and other facilities. Robert also is volunteer instructor for NA and serves on the helpline subcommittee as the vice chair. He has been the NA group service representative for his home group, served on several adhoc subcommittees, and regularly chairs NA meetings around the Big Bend area. He has resumed relationships with family members that I hadn t talked to in years. Robert has learned humility, honesty, self-respect, compassion, and integrity. He believes he owes this to the people in drug court and NA who saw something in him that he couldn t see himself. Now he is OK with who and what he is -- a grateful recovering addict. His life is precious to him. Name and age: Lindsay Peters, 21 Date of Graduation from Drug Court: March th Judicial Circuit Palm Beach County Drug Court Palm Beach County Lindsay s parents realized she had a serious drug problem and watched helplessly as she spiraled out of control. Shortly after her arrest, Lindsay was referred to drug court. Slowly, Lindsay started to progress through her program and began to thrive. After six months, she successfully completed inpatient treatment and returned to drug court which she successfully completed. After graduation, Lindsay received her GED while working full time at a substance abuse treatment center. She plans to attend college to obtain a degree in Criminal Justice. Lindsay is proud of her independence; she pays her own bills and recently bought her first car which she uses to transport drug court participants she meets at Narcotics Anonymous meetings to and from court.

7 She continues to attend NA three times each week and is still working the on the steps with her sponsor. Lindsay supports others in the group by encouraging them to do the right thing. Lindsay hopes to become a sponsor to other women in recovery. Today, Lindsay says, drug court gave me a fresh start and allowed me to get my life back. She has reestablished a close relationship with both of her parents. Lindsay loves being able to talk to her mother every day, about everything. Name and age: Linda Walker Date of Graduation from Drug Court: May th Judicial Circuit Hillsborough County Drug Court Hillsborough County Linda s cocaine addiction had driven her to a point where she had lost her job, family, and self-respect. It had also pushed her into the legal system where she found herself in drug court. The combination of treatment, judicial supervision, and case management allowed her to make the changes that created a model citizen and a powerful force for good in community. Linda is active in the 12-step programs where she shares her experience, strength and hope with others. A busy wife and mother, she finds time to be active in her church where she is a teacher in the daycare program. Linda is the house and program manager of a women s recovery house and a member of religious and governmental organizations working to improve the transition of inmates back into society. She is involved in projects where representatives from various community programs regularly meet to share information on resources available to the homeless and others in need. Linda is a member of a homeless coalition, where she has recently been nominated to serve on the Board of Directors. Moreover, she founded

8 Linda s Recovery Resources, a consulting business to help individuals interested in starting and managing a recovery house. Have you talked to Linda Walker? is a phrase heard frequently among the various organizations concerned with drug abuse. She is a go-to person, recognized for her insight, expertise, and compassion by many sectors of the community.

9 Name and age: Elyse Dermer, 47 Date of Graduation from Drug Court: July th Judicial Circuit Miami-Dade County Drug Court Miami-Dade County When does one wake up from a bad dream? For Elyse, addiction was a living nightmare that can never be repeated. For the devastation it caused for her children and herself, her substance abuse amounts to her own private mental and physical holocaust. Elyse said she remembers the days of her addiction and the effect it had on her family every day so that she does not repeat it. Elyse had gone through substance abuse treatment before but always for someone else her family, her job. It wasn t until after she was arrested, incarcerated and ordered by the court to attend another residential treatment center by drug court that something different happened. She was hired by The Village South as a Prevention Specialist and was promoted to an admissions therapist. Her employment duties have been focused on youth education. While working in the admissions department, she has received training and became certified in several therapy and workgroups. Elyse has conducted presentations on behalf of The Village South and is a mentor for other agencies in the community. Elyse is also registered Mental Health Intern for the State of Florida and is in the process of obtaining her board certification. If you ask Elyse what her greatest accomplishment is after getting sober, she will tell you it is her relationship with her children and family. Her life now revolves around her family and her profession. ###