At first look, it seemed like any other graduation ceremony. Excited graduates lined up in front of the room, with friends and family overflowing into the hallways. Even the program seemed like standard affair n except for the last item on the list: “dismissal of charges.”
This was a graduation, not from an institution of higher learning, but into a drug-free life.
After almost two years of intensive counseling, group work and alternative therapies, 22 St. Louis citizens graduated from the Missouri Twenty-Second Judicial Circuit Drug Court last Friday.
The objective of the St. Louis Drug Court is to provide treatment, vocational skills, job placement and other opportunities to help participants become drug-free, productive contributors to their families and the community.
Upon completion of the 12-18 month program, all charges are dismissed. Missouri has 71 drug courts in operation, with more than 2,000 people participating each year (and the number is growing). These are some 1,500 such programs across the country.
“We don’t really care if they are guilty of the charge, that is not what this court is about. We are concerned about the addiction to the drug and what we can do to help the individual avoid reuse by learning the tools they need,” said Judge James Sullivan, commissioner of the program.
“When we finally see the success of the people that we have been working with, it confirms in our minds that the drug court program is the right way to go.”
A study released last February confirmed the program’s success. According to the study, adult graduates of St. Louis’ drug court often earned more and relied less upon welfare than those who served probation.
Although all of Friday’s graduates have reason to be proud, Deborah Patterson had more on the line than most.
Patterson’s 15-year struggle with drug addiction left her life in shambles. Not only did it cause her to lose custody of nine of her children, but her tenth child, Diamond, was taken from her at birth. With her successful completion of the program, Patterson received full custody of her infant daughter.
“I finally accomplished what I came to accomplish. I have got my life back in shape. I’m clean. I have custody of my daughter. I have a nice job. I have a home for my family,” she said.
“When they took my baby at birth, I knew that I had to make a change. Her name is Diamond, because she is my precious jewel. She is what saved my life.”
Among friends and family present at the graduation ceremony to congratulate Patterson were her sister Priscilla Kelly and Diamond’s foster mother, Charlyn Keane.
“I felt for Deborah that it would help her tremendously to know that the foster mom is still very interested,” Keane said.
“She always said that she didn’t want to let me down, because she appreciated me caring for her daughter. I just kind of stuck with it, and now we are friends.”
An even deeper sense of accomplishment was felt by Patterson’s sister.
“I have been through a long struggle with her. I did give up at one point. I decided that I had to put it in the hands of the Lord, and I said I just couldn’t do it anymore,” Kelly said.
“When she finally started to make changes in her life, I realized that she had to have someone to be there for her, and it’s only me and her. I’ve now gotten used to seeing her not being on drugs and having a working life. She has a smile again. I have my sister back.”