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Tuesday, January 22, 2008
Ind. Courts - "Vanderburgh County Day Reporting Drug Court will hold its 25th graduation ceremony today"
Kate Braser reports in the Evansville Courier & Press:
The Vanderburgh County Day Reporting Drug Court will hold its 25th graduation ceremony today. Six participants will graduate during the courthouse ceremony.The intensive, 18-month drug court program began in 2001, offering an alternative to incarceration for people addicted to drugs but who have not committed violent crimes. * * *
Vanderburgh Superior Court Judge Wayne Trockman said it's hard to believe he'll oversee the 25th graduation this week.
"I feel like this is one of the few really good, happy things that go on in this place," Trockman said. "Everything else I do feels like I am doing things to people, but I'd rather do things for people."
When the program started seven years ago, Trockman said drug courts were a new concept.
"Not only for this area but nationally," he said. "The movement has really caught on since probably about 2000. I think there were three drug courts in the state when we started."
Trockman said the program had to prove itself.
"There were a lot of fears in the beginning of failure and being seen as soft on crime, but most people now know that is not the case."
In just seven years, the program has gained respect beyond the county.
"We regularly have visits from other counties wanting to see how we do this," he said.
Posted by Marcia Oddi on January 22, 2008 08:41 AM
Posted to Indiana Courts