EIGHT COMPLETE DRUG COURT

WAILUKU - Eight former defendants dealing with drug addiction earned
the right to be back in their communities Thursday after graduating
from the Maui/Molokai Drug Court program.

The graduates were recognized in a ceremony held in 2nd Circuit Court,
with participating Judges Shackley Raffetto, Joseph Cardoza, Joel
August and Keith Tanaka.

Instituted in August 2000, the program provides close court
supervision of individuals who have been charged with nonviolent
crimes while they undergo counseling, treatment and job training for
up to 15 months.

Acceptance in the program and graduation requires the participants to
submit to regular drug testing and provide clean drug tests, earn a
minimum of a high school equivalency diploma, attend support meetings
on a regular basis, and maintain full-time employment or be in a
full-time college program continuously for a minimum of 90 days prior
to graduating.

Barbara-Ann Keller, administrator or the Maui Drug Court, said the
program has proved it can reduce recidivism or defendants being
arrested for new crimes. The Maui Drug Court has recorded a 18 percent
rearrest rate for program graduates, she said, while there has been
growth in the Friends and Family Support Group that can help to
prevent individuals from reoffending.

"Friends and Family Group growth has occurred to the extent that 70 to
90 individuals from the community . . . are attending group sessions
each week for support and education," Keller said. "The groups were
occurring twice per month yet became so popular that we needed to
split the groups in half and create a group each week of the month so
people could attend twice per month."

Since its inception, the Drug Court has accepted 506 defendants, with
252 graduating. Participants who fail to complete the Drug Court are
convicted of the charges against them.

"We are forever grateful for the support of Maui County citizens
including recovering individuals, their friends and families," Keller
said. "Collectively we are building and maintaining a recovery
environment for all."