At 21, Jason was a cocaine addict, arrested on a possession charge that could have wrecked his life. Now, months later he is about to graduate from Syracuse Community Treatment Court. The reward: a clean record and a good shot at staying off drugs.
“Keep your focus on your recovery,” Supervising Judge Jeffrey Merrill told Jason Tuesday afternoon in a courtroom packed with defendants, family members, friends, student reporters and court personnel. “You can do it,” Merrill said to a round of applause.
48 others stood before Merrill, some of whom had turned themselves in for relapses. They got a break. Others caught using and lying got a tongue-lashing and, in some cases, a couple of weekends in jail.
“The truth will set you free,” Merrill said. “I’ve got to hear it [relapse] out of your mouth rather than a urine cup. The only person you’re going to screw is yourself.”
Merrill had enough of a few repeat violators and sent them off in handcuffs to prison. Dishonesty, failed drug tests or absences to court are intolerable.
The Syracuse Community Treatment Court started in 1997 with the aim to support drug addicts and build them into productive citizens. Director Kim Kozlowski said the drug court has a lower recidivism rate than other rehabilitation programs. Six out of ten people graduate.
“My biggest role is like a father of a big dysfunctional family,” Merrill said. “It’s change or die in this program.”
Jason changed. On November 18th, his next court date, he hopes to be free.
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