Thirteen graduate from county drug court
CANFIELD -- Thirteen people were recognized Wednesday for leading drug-free lives. They were involved in the 11th graduation ceremony of the Mahoning County Misdemeanor Drug Court.
Each received a certificate of completion from Judge Scott D. Hunter of Mahoning County Canfield Court. The state of Ohio will dismiss pending misdemeanor charges against the graduates. Program participants agree to stay sober from drugs and alcohol continuously for six months or longer; complete intensive outpatient programs that include weekly counseling sessions; attend three or more Alcoholics Anonymous or similar meetings each week; pay all outstanding fines and court costs; make restitution, if applicable; complete general educational development tests if they didn't receive high school diplomas; and obtain drivers' licenses if they had been suspended.
The misdemeanor drug court began in 2001, and 113 people have successfully completed it.
Only 10.7 percent of graduates have committed new crimes, compared to the national recidivism average of 45 percent and the 64 percent new conviction rate of defendants who declined to participate in the program, says George Sofranko, Misdemeanor Drug Court coordinator.