King County Celebrates Latest Drug Court Graduates During National Recovery Month
This month, which is National Recovery Month, the King County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office (PAO) is celebrating the newest graduates of King County’s Drug Diversion Court. The five-phase program is a minimum of 10 months, though the average graduate is part of the program for 18 months.
Last week, eleven individuals graduated from Drug Court, which offers individuals charged with felony drug crimes — and property crimes motivated by addiction — the opportunity for substance use disorder and mental health treatment, access to other services such as housing, transportation and job skills training, and an opportunity for felony dismissal. Eligible defendants can elect to participate in the program or proceed with traditional court processing.
Watch the entire September 2021 Drug Court Graduation Ceremony HERE.
“Treatment drastically changed my life, I’m able to be the mom I want to be for my daughter,” said one graduate. “Thank you for helping me get to where I’ve wanted to get to for a long time.” Watch this video clip HERE.
Every month, our office — along with judges, family members and friends, and case managers — celebrates a new group of graduates, many of whom say Drug Diversion Court was a turning point. Since the start of the pandemic, many Drug Court services have transitioned to remote operation, and last week’s graduation happened via Zoom.
During the event, graduates described their journeys in maintaining their sobriety, and how through the program they were able to reconnect with their children and achieve stable housing or employment.
“When I came to the program, I was homeless and had pretty much given up hope,” said another graduate. “I was scared and didn’t think I could graduate Drug Court. But everyone rallied around me, and I couldn’t have done it without you all. It’s an amazing thing, Drug Court is an amazing program — you folks change people’s lives.” Watch this video clip, HERE.
After choosing to participate in the program, which had its first class in 1994, participants come under the court’s supervision and are required to attend treatment sessions, undergo random urinalysis drug testing, and appear before the Drug Court judge on a regular basis.
“Welcome to one of the happiest days on our Drug Court calendar and for our Drug Court family,” said Drug Diversion Court Judge Dean Lum. “It’s our honor and privilege to preside over this celebration — we’ve traveled a huge journey together. I want to acknowledge the courage of the people graduating today; they’ve decided to make a change in their lives, and it wasn’t easy — anyone who says it is easy doesn’t know what they are talking about.”
“Graduations are a testament to the remarkable changes individuals with substance use disorder can make when provided with the right combination of support, resources, structure and accountability,” said Drug Diversion Court Program Manager, Christina Mason. “It is heartwarming for our team to see these transformations and the ways in which graduates are giving back to their communities.”
King County Drug Diversion Court was started in August 1994, by the late Norm Maleng and then King County Superior Court Judge Ricardo Martinez. At the time of its founding, King County’s Drug Court was the twelfth drug court in the country. Currently, there are drug courts in every state and over 3,000 nationwide. More than 2,700 people have graduated from Drug Court since 1994.
