COUNTY DRUG TREATMENT COURT PROGRAM TO GRADUATE PARTICIPANTS

OSWEGO -- Five people who have successfully completed Oswego County's Drug
Treatment Court program will graduate tonight at the County Courthouse.

County Court Judge James McCarthy will preside over the ceremony and will
offer remarks along with Drug Treatment Court coordinator Dave Guyer.
Graduates will also have the opportunity to speak.

The Oswego County Drug Treatment Court is a court-approved substance abuse
treatment program for people who have been charged with nonviolent crimes.
Since its inception in August 1999, 13 people have graduated.

Guyer said the program was started with federal grant money but with funds
running low, the state is taking it over. Judith Kaye, the Chief Justice of
the New York State Court of Appeals, has mandated that each county have a
drug treatment court by 2003.

Those eligible for the program include nonviolent offenders committing drug
or alcohol-related crimes. The participants must complete a drug treatment
program with continuous drug testing. To graduate, the person must be
working toward becoming employed or pursuing an education.

Guyer said the county plans to hold four graduations per year with the next
one scheduled for August.

"This is a really a good accomplishment for these people," Guyer said.