Cook County alternative program helps people get clean from drugs, avoid criminal behavior

Now, different counties want to copy this system due to its success.

Congratulations and tears of pleasure had been seen in an uncommon place Thursday — a Cook dinner County legal courtroom.

Six individuals with drug expenses graduate the Cook dinner County Drug Courtroom Program after 24 months of counseling, coaching, testing and help companies.

This system goals to assist them get clear, and Thursday, they’d their expenses dismissed.

“I not must stroll with my head down,” mentioned graduate Lillian Jackson. “Stroll with my head up.”

After many years of combating drug habit, she landed in Decide Charles Burns’ courtroom. Now, Jackson resides in a brand new place, working and received a full faculty scholarship.

“They are saying God places individuals in your life for a motive and this was the explanation — for me to get clear and sober and begin my new life,” Jackson mentioned.

Drug courtroom is certainly one of 20 problem-solving courts in Cook dinner County. There’s additionally veterans courts and psychological well being courts.

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Nevertheless, these courts had been acknowledged nationally and can change into fashions for different jurisdictions.

Decide Burns mentioned after seeing tons of graduate, these alternate options scale back recidivism.

“It is a win-win for everybody,” Decide Burns mentioned.

Decide Burns has overseen Rehabilitative Various Probation Drug Courtroom on the Leighton Courthouse since 2010.

“If you consider in them, they alter their lives. That’s so inspirational for all of us. It retains us motivated and it retains us giving the subsequent individual an opportunity due to the successes of our graduates,” he added.

This yr, a graduate alumni affiliation was created to assist the graduates keep on their paths. This graduate alumni affiliation can be anticipated to be replicated in different areas.

“I wish to give again and assist any individual like any individual helped me,” Jackson mentioned.

As for Jackson, she mentioned the one means she is going to return to a legal courtroom is to presumably work there sometime when she will get her diploma in knowledge science. She begins faculty within the fall.