Empathy, Hope, and Help From the Bench

The Drug Court Program for the Northern District of West Virginia is a cooperative effort by the United States District Court, the United States Probation Office, and the United States Attorney's Office, along with various community stakeholders and service providers, to break the cycle of substance abuse by providing a rehabilitative program for individuals involved in the federal criminal justice system who are afflicted with substance abuse problems. The goals of the program are to promote community safety, reduce recidivism and substance abuse among offenders, break the cycle of crime related to drug addiction, and increase the likelihood of successful rehabilitation by employing the most effective use of existing resources for substance abuse treatment and implementing a blend of treatment, supervision, appropriate sanctions, and incentives. Abstinence and public safety are the ultimate goals of the Drug Court Program. The court, in the epicenter of the drug epidemic, has seen great success with this program, boasting more than 60 graduates over the past five years, as well as numerous families that have been reunited. But that success could not be possible without the empathetic and caring team who believe in the process and the people.