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As members of the fall 2009 graduating class stood up to get their diplomas, pictures were snapped, tissues came out, and loud yells of joy came from the audience as the names were called.
Though the ceremony was held in Geneva High School’s large auditorium, these graduates weren’t receiving a high school or college degree. Instead, they were receiving confirmation they have made it drug-free for the past year.
Kane County’s Adult Drug Court graduation took place Oct. 14. Throughout the entire ceremony, program supervisor Randy Reusch stood near the side of the stage smiling like a proud father.
“This is wonderful,” Reusch said. “It’s the best feeling in the world.”
Graduations are twice a year, usually once in October and once in April. There were 16 participants at last week’s graduation, ranging in age from 20 to 59.
Kane County Sheriff Pat Perez, who rarely misses a drug court graduation, said the program works as an alternative sentencing and has shown a “very positive” impact.
“You never want to see a person fail,” Perez said. Perez told the graduates even though he’s a member of the police force, he wants to see them succeed.
“You have to believe in yourself,” Perez said. “You have to believe you can do it.”
Every graduate from drug court, which started in 2000, was at one time convicted of a drug- or alcohol-related felony, with the most common drug being cocaine. With 575 graduates to date, drug court gives participants a second chance to go through guided rehabilitation, instead of having to live through confinement in jail.
“This is a program that can make a difference in our community,” Kane County Chief Judge F. Keith Brown said. Brown asked the graduates to become a “beacon of success” and a role model for others who may end up in their shoes.
Judge Patricia Piper Golden, the event’s master of ceremonies, said the group has paid a total of $36,882 in fines and court fees, a requirement to graduate from drug court.
“I am so happy that they will have (other) things to spend their money on,” Golden said. “Better things.”
Reusch said some graduates undergo extreme changes because of the experience.
“You can’t even recognize some of them,” Reusch said.
One such participant, Randy Ramirez, a 2002 graduate of drug court, gave an impassioned speech to this year’s graduates.
Ramirez said he has been through it all — street gangs, recovery, relapse, jail and second chances. Doing drugs on and off since he was 13, he has now been clean for seven and a half years.
“I felt hopeless with what my life was becoming,” Ramirez said. “Drug court was my first step. ... I gave myself the opportunity just as all of you have.”
Ramirez now has a job working with recovering addicts, has paid off $20,000 in child support, went to college and mostly importantly, has stayed clean.
“I am not longer hiding behind the lie of ‘Once an addict, always an addict,’” Ramirez said “(That) can’t be the excuse for my behavior.”
As members of the fall 2009 graduating class stood up to get their diplomas, pictures were snapped, tissues came out, and loud yells of joy came from the audience as the names were called.
Though the ceremony was held in Geneva High School’s large auditorium, these graduates weren’t receiving a high school or college degree. Instead, they were receiving confirmation they have made it drug-free for the past year.
Kane County’s Adult Drug Court graduation took place Oct. 14. Throughout the entire ceremony, program supervisor Randy Reusch stood near the side of the stage smiling like a proud father.
“This is wonderful,” Reusch said. “It’s the best feeling in the world.”
Graduations are twice a year, usually once in October and once in April. There were 16 participants at last week’s graduation, ranging in age from 20 to 59.
Kane County Sheriff Pat Perez, who rarely misses a drug court graduation, said the program works as an alternative sentencing and has shown a “very positive” impact.
“You never want to see a person fail,” Perez said. Perez told the graduates even though he’s a member of the police force, he wants to see them succeed.
“You have to believe in yourself,” Perez said. “You have to believe you can do it.”
Every graduate from drug court, which started in 2000, was at one time convicted of a drug- or alcohol-related felony, with the most common drug being cocaine. With 575 graduates to date, drug court gives participants a second chance to go through guided rehabilitation, instead of having to live through confinement in jail.
“This is a program that can make a difference in our community,” Kane County Chief Judge F. Keith Brown said. Brown asked the graduates to become a “beacon of success” and a role model for others who may end up in their shoes.
Judge Patricia Piper Golden, the event’s master of ceremonies, said the group has paid a total of $36,882 in fines and court fees, a requirement to graduate from drug court.
“I am so happy that they will have (other) things to spend their money on,” Golden said. “Better things.”
Reusch said some graduates undergo extreme changes because of the experience.
“You can’t even recognize some of them,” Reusch said.
One such participant, Randy Ramirez, a 2002 graduate of drug court, gave an impassioned speech to this year’s graduates.
Ramirez said he has been through it all — street gangs, recovery, relapse, jail and second chances. Doing drugs on and off since he was 13, he has now been clean for seven and a half years.
“I felt hopeless with what my life was becoming,” Ramirez said. “Drug court was my first step. ... I gave myself the opportunity just as all of you have.”
Ramirez now has a job working with recovering addicts, has paid off $20,000 in child support, went to college and mostly importantly, has stayed clean.
“I am not longer hiding behind the lie of ‘Once an addict, always an addict,’” Ramirez said “(That) can’t be the excuse for my behavior.”
