Community Corner
Glasgow Announces New Will County Drug Court Graduates
Nine participants graduated during the January 30th ceremony. This year also marks the 20th anniversary of the program.
Will County State’s Attorney James Glasgow recently announced nine new Will County Drug Court graduates during the January 30th ceremony at Jacob Henry Mansion in Joliet. This year marks the 20th anniversary of the Drug Court program, which now has a total number of 490 graduates.
“The opioid epidemic continues to wreak havoc on the lives of people throughout Will County and our nation. Deaths from heroin and fentanyl in Will County have been on the rise since 2015, and the vast majority of these deaths involved fentanyl,” Glasgow stated. “Anyone who uses heroin will become addicted. It changes your brain chemistry and destroys your rational thought processes. Our Drug Court is literally saving lives by helping to remove individuals from the deadly cycle of addiction, and helping participants reclaim their lives.”
The Drug Court graduates represented several Will County communities including Joliet, Plainfield, Wilmington, Homer Glen, Braidwood, Rockdale, and Mokena. Circuit Court Judge Sarah-Marie Jones, who manages the Drug Court docket, presided over the graduation ceremony while March 2018 graduate, James Navarro, shared remarks of how the program saved his life. He has now been sober for three years.
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State’s Attorney Glasgow led efforts to launch the Drug Court, serving as the overseer for the grant that helped fund its creation. The Drug Court was also Will County’s first Problem Solving Court. Through the Drug Court program, prosecutors and defense attorneys work closely with judges and treatment providers to assist individuals who have committed non-violent offenses in fighting their addictions. The program aids in screening the individuals, who must do the following: remain drug free, undergo random drug testing, search for employment, complete treatment, and commit to attending weekly Drug Court sessions.
Drug Court is just one of many initiatives enforced by Glasgow. In addition to petitioning the court for the development of the Will County Veterans Court, he worked closely with the Chief Judge to form the Mental Health Court and also drafted and won the grant for the Redeploy Illinois Court, which aids in keeping repeat offenders out of prison and into employment. He has expanded the work of the Problem Solving Courts by establishing three residential facilities to assist court participants. The Miller Taylor House and Julie Ann House provides participants with temporary housing while the Connor Kelly Residence, which opened last year, allows for longer-term housing.
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Image via the Office of the Will County State’s Attorney
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