The Third Branch
Eau Claire drug court celebrates 50th grad
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Justice Patience Drake Roggensack shares a lighter moment with Eau Claire County Drug Treatment Court's 50th graduate, Chris Coyer. Photo credit: Dan Reiland/Eau Claire Leader-Telegram |
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Justice Ann Walsh Bradley remarks on the accomplishments of the Eau Claire County Drug Treatment Court during a ceremony in Judge Lisa K. Stark's courtroom on Aug. 24. Photo credit: Dan Reiland/Eau Claire Leader-Telegram |
The Eau Claire County Drug Court Program celebrated its 50th graduate during a ceremony Aug. 24 in the courtroom of Circuit Court Judge Lisa K. Stark.
The ceremony, attended by Wisconsin Supreme Court Justices Ann Walsh Bradley and Patience Drake Roggensack, drew front-page coverage by the Eau Claire Leader-Telegram newspaper, which proclaimed in a headline: Justices praise Eau Claire County.
Roggensack called the 50th graduation an extraordinary accomplishment; Bradley said Eau Claire County is becoming a "mecca of the Midwest" for its pioneering use of treatment courts, which also include a mental health court, veterans court, and a treatment court for single mothers.
The ceremony marked the graduation of Chris Coyer, who began drug court in November 2009, after being sentenced to three years of probation and one year in jail for his sixth drunken driving offense. Coyer opted for a chance to reduce the jail time to six months by successfully completing drug court. The decision helped turn his life around, Coyer said during the ceremony.
"I knew I had to do something. I couldn't go to prison. I needed some help, I was in despair with myself and everyone who was close to me," the Leader-Telegram quoted Coyer as saying. Coyer was congratulated on maintaining sobriety for more than a year. In addressing the audience he added "Since being admitted to drug court, my life has turned completely around for the better. I have started to believe in myself through changing my thinking and how I approach things. I am a different self now. I'm different in my attitudes; I'm different in appreciating my body; I'm different in terms of trying to cope with the big questions of life."
The Eau Claire County Drug Court Program, which now has 30 participants, accepted its first participant in October of 2004 after more than a year of planning. The court accepts medium-high to high-risk offenders addicted to drugs or alcohol who have been convicted of non-violent felony offenses. Candidates for drug court are referred to the program by prosecutors, defense attorneys, corrections officials or drug treatment professionals.
Stark, who has presided over the drug court since its inception, said the drug court restores hope for participants who otherwise are headed to prison.
The presence of two Supreme Court justices not only helped draw some publicity, it was meaningful to drug court participants, Stark said.
"Everyone was so impressed to meet Supreme Court Justices, hear them speak, and realize that they are real people that are truly supportive of the participants' efforts," Stark said.