DRUG COURT PROGRAM GRADUATES APPLAUDED BY AUTHORITIES

A few weeks ago, they were on a one-way path to nowhere - or worse, state
prison.

Today, they're productive members of society, going to college, holding
down jobs and have a bright future.

These are the latest graduates of the Oswego County Drug Court Program.

The program gives certain offenders another option besides going through
the regular court system.

Judge James McCarthy praised the five graduates Monday night.

The certificate they earned was "much, much harder" than getting a
four-year education, he told them.

"You're working your way up, that's very tough," he said. "We didn't do you
any favors. We just gave you the tools, you did it all."

"This is one hell of a program," said one of the graduates, explaining how
the program helped him beat drugs and get on with his life in a positive way.

"This is a good program," another graduate said. "It is definitely well
worth the effort."

Speaking to the members of the audience still going through the program,
Judge McCarthy said, "You can do it just like they did. They stumbled at
times, but they got through it. Some of them were far worse off than you
are. They did it. You can do it."

Patrick Woodford (in the photo above, with Judge McCarthy) was one of the
program's success stories.

"This is a good program," he noted. "It gives you a lot of confidence. It's
different from probation because you have a binding contract (break the
contract and you're sent to jail). Basically, you're going to find out
pretty soon if you're going to keep your word and stick to it or if you're
going to go back to bad habits."