The Adams County Youth Drug Court held its fifth graduation ceremony on Feb. 28 at the Adams County Courthouse, Circuit Courtroom.

Six graduates were honored during the ceremony. Judge John Hudson introduced the keynote speaker, Patricia B. Marshall, assistant attorney general director of Crime Prevention and Victim Services. Marshall delivered an encouraging speech to the graduates. At the conclusion of the speech, Marshall was assisted by Hudson in the presentation of diplomas to the graduates.

When given an opportunity to relay how the drug court had helped them, one participant said drug court had helped him stay on the right track. Another graduate said that if he would not have participated in the drug court he would still be out on the streets getting into trouble.

His mother added that the drug court saved her child from becoming an addict. She said he would have been in trouble or dead if the drug court program had not been there for her family. She related that the rewarding of good behavior in court, the support groups and the close monitoring of her child’s curfew helped her son maintain his sobriety.

This mother also thanked the drug court staff for helping her with her child when she felt that there was nothing else she as a parent could do for him. Each graduate thanked the drug court team for their support while they were in the program. Two of the six graduates obtained employment while participating in the program and one received their General Education Development degree. A reception for the graduates was held at the Juvenile Justice Center following the graduation ceremony. The graduates and their families celebrated the occasion with a dinner donated by La Fiesta Grande restaurant.

The ceremony marked the graduate’s completion of a program of comprehensive drug treatment, close supervision and full accountability.

Adams County Youth Drug Court hears cases of juvenile offenders charged with drug-related offenses or with offenses where drugs have been determined to be a contributing factor.

The drug court places juvenile offenders in an environment where they undergo treatment and counseling, submit to frequent and random drug testing, make regular court appearances before the judge and are monitored closely for program compliance. Graduated sanctions are imposed for non-compliance and conversely, incentives are applied for continual compliance with program requirements.

The program focuses on assisting young offenders to view life from a different set of priorities. It insists on sobriety as a way of life, promotes educational development, monitors and requires appropriate behavior at school, in the community and at home and even aids the youth’s participation in developing employment opportunities. The youth and their parents are required to participate in a rigorous program aimed at accomplishing these goals. The program takes a minimum of one year to complete.

The drug court program consists of three 90 day phases and an after care program. To be eligible for phase promotions participants must maintain sobriety for 90 consecutive days in each phase passing random drug screens. They must attend school or a GED program regularly, participate in a pro-social activity, and attend drug court sessions bi-weekly. During the graduation ceremony, ten youth were recognized for phase promotions.

The team includes, the judge, a director, two drug court counselors, a prosecuting attorney, a public defender, law enforcement, a court liaison, the youth services counselor and a community service coordinator.

The Adams County Youth Drug Court was the first juvenile drug court in the state.

It began in 2002 under a seed money grant form the Attorney General. Now the court operates from funds appropriated by the legislature to support drug courts across the state. Forty youth and their parents, the maximum allowed by state policy are served in our court. Today there are four operational youth drug courts in the state and three in development.

U.S. District Judge Keith Starrett of McComb, the “father” of the drug court movement in Mississippi, emphasized the importance of juvenile drug courts.

“You get the most benefit from a juvenile drug court,” he said. “When you do get into drug court, you have the opportunity to turn your life around.”

Starrett, founded the first felony adult drug court in 1999 in Lincoln, Pike and Walthall counties while serving as circuit judge.