Greenbrier and Pocahontas County Drug Court Graduation held

RONCEVERTE W.Va. (WVDN) – Recently, at the Ronceverte Fire Department, a graduation ceremony for Drug Court was held for four adults who have dedicated the last year or more of their lives, to making a change.

An excerpt from a pamphlet given at the ceremony says “Just walk into any court in the U.S. and you’ll hear two words bellowed out by a bailiff or court officer. Two words that demand everyone in the courtroom to leap to attention in unison. Two words that call for order in the courtroom and instill a sense of awe and respect. All rise. But in drug court, those two words have an even greater meaning. For those two simple words capture the essence of what a drug court does. All Rise describes how instead of casing out and discarding an addict, drug courts insert hope and support into the very lives of people who the traditional justice system say are hopeless. All rise describes drug court as a place where instead of prison, addicts receive the right mix of treatment and accountability needed to change their lives; instead of hopelessness, they receive a solution, instead of indifference they are shown compassion, instead of judgment, they are given assistance, instead of punishment, they are provided a passport to recovery. All Rise indeed represents that awe-inspiring moment at the beginning of each drug court session but all rise has a deeper social meaning as well. All rise is a challenge to summon our collective strength and help lighten the [load] of those members of our community whose burden has become too heavy to carry alone. All rise demands that we see beyond the chaos and wreckage in a person’s life to their potential. With hope and humanity we act, because we know that when one person rises out of drugs and crime, we all rise.”

The Greenbrier Day Report Center (GDRC) is a community-based correctional program that has been designed to provide services for its clients for a minimum of twelve weeks to a maximum of one year. The GDRC’s programming is more intense than regular probation or home incarceration supervision. The requirements for reporting and contacts differ substantially. In addition, the opportunity to make real progress and obtain needed skills is more readily available at the GDRC. The primary purpose of the Greenbrier Day Report Center staff is to develop a program of counseling and instruction that addresses the client’s needs while at the same time addressing issues of public safety. Many of the services needed to assist clients in making a successful transition from probationer to private citizen are available at the Greenbrier Day Report Center.

Four people were celebrated as they completed the requirements of their program, yet have achieved so much more. Two graduates from Greenbrier County were Skyler Lambert and Tabitha Trout. Graduating from Pocahontas County were Michael “Tommy” Caldwell and Sheena Crites. Each graduate spoke to family members, their day report teams, police, attorneys and judges about their individual struggles and triumphs. A former graduate, Josh Goddard, spoke to the crowd and the graduates, giving them a true testimony of the success of the program, the need for self-accountability, affirmation that ‘You can do it’ and ‘Don’t ever give up’.

The Honorable Judge Robert E. Richardson of Greenbrier County and Honorable Judge Jennifer P. Dent of Pocahontas County gave words of encouragement and shared memories with the graduates. Each Judge showed immense pride and support for each of their graduates, noting that their beginnings may have been rocky or even downright futile, and asked them all to look at what they have accomplished. Each graduate was then provided a walk to their certificates, handed to them by the judge that reunited them with their lives. Their faces swelling with pride, each of the graduates should be commended for their bravery, their devotion, their strength and their abilities.

Also in attendance and support were the day report staff members: adult drug court coordinator/PO Meagan Slaven, and chief probation officer Tonya Hoover. The state drug court coordinator Kaylee Dickinson and assistant prosecuting attorney Ryan Blake were also present to show support. Ronceverte City Police were even on hand to serve the graduates a hearty, healthy, celebration lunch.

Anyone who is struggling with addiction needs to know that literal teams of people are ready and willing to see you through rehabilitation, to the end. And then some. The reinforcement doesn’t stop at graduation. All have said that if ever they are needed, they will be there. The ceremony made that extremely evident. Support seems to be the word of the day here, but “All Rise” is what must be done to put an end to the crippling drug epidemic here in the Mountain State.

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