DRUG COURT GRADUATES READY FOR A FRESH START

Five more people joined the ranks of drug court graduates Monday brining
the total to 28 in the three years the program has been operating in Jamestown.

About 100 people attended the program in City Hall to honor graduates who
have taken control of their lives with the help of the city's drug court
program.

Drug court is an alternative to the traditional court system and is for
people who committed crimes as a result of drug or alcohol use. Those
enrolled in the program undergo intensive drug or alcohol counseling and
attend support groups daily. To graduate from the program, participants
must be drug free for one year, have become employed or enrolled in school
and must support any dependents.

One of the new graduates, Deanna Moore, said she was using drugs and knew
her life was spiraling out of control. She began the drug court program,
which is for non-violent offenders, in 2000 after she was charged with
resisting arrest. Ms. Moore admitted her last episode was one of a number
of drinking-related problems she had with police.

As part of the drug court program, the Jamestown resident said she was sent
to outpatient treatment and 12-step meetings. "For the first nine months I
tried to scam my way through the program," Ms. More said. "I was caught and
they sent me to an inpatient program."

Ms. Moore said after completing the inpatient program, she started became
an active participant in the program.

"Drug Court took me from where I was and showed me a new life was
possible," Ms. Moore said. "They can show you what to do, but you have to
want life to get better."

While in the program, Ms. Moore earned her general equivalency diploma and
is now planning to attend cosmetology school.

Another drug court graduate, Michael Gates of Jamestown, said he came to
the program after he was caught selling drugs. Gates said he sold drugs to
earn money to pay for his drug habit.

He said drug court helped him tremendously.

"I have been clean for 16 months," Gates said. "I have a job. It has helped
me to understand and get help for my addiction. "I have become a father,
son and brother again," he said. "I have become a whole new person."

Gates gave credit to City Court Judge John LaMancuso and the other drug
court staff members, his friends, family and his church for helping him
through the transformation.

Judge Vincent Doyle, who is the Eighth Judicial District administrative
judge, said the graduates are evidence the drug court program is working.

"Judge LaMancuso was one of the first to put drug court into practice,"
Doyle said. "It is due to his zeal that the city was able to establish the
drug court program. It is heartening to see the people who have been helped."

Doyle said the drug court program has to keep proving itself so the state
and county officials will keep funding the program. "We have to show
constantly that it is a success," he said.

Doyle then addressed the graduates: "I know you can't stay sober for any
reason but yourself, but I hope you will also stay clean to demonstrate the
success of the program."