Drug court program to graduate 15

Judge Hunter has led the drug court since 2001.

STAFF REPORT

CANFIELD — The Misdemeanor Drug Court Program of Mahoning County will have its graduation ceremony at 4 p.m. Wednesday at the county’s area court here, 72 N. Broad St., with Judge Scott Hunter presiding.

Fifteen graduates will be awarded certificates.

Rev. Lewis Macklin III, pastor of Holy Trinity Missionary Baptist Church, Youngstown, will give the invocation, and Judge John Durkin of Mahoning County Common Pleas Court will give the commencement address. Atty. J. Gerald Ingram, president of the Mahoning County Bar Association, will address the benefits and effectiveness of the program.

The drug court program promotes community awareness of those afflicted with the disease of addiction to reach their full potential. Successful graduates are able to reunite with family, maintain sobriety and become productive members of society, according to a drug court program press release.

Judge Hunter has led the court since April 2001. The drug court targets adults charged with nonviolent, nonsex and nonweapons crimes in one of the county’s four area courts. About 3,300 misdemeanor criminal cases are filed each year in those courts.

The misdemeanor drug court demonstrates there can be a winning collaboration between governmental agencies and private organizations, the release says. The savings to our community is in the hundreds of thousands of dollars. The benefits are seen fiscally, socially and legally in our county, Judge Hunter added.

The public is invited to attend the graduation ceremony and learn more about the program and its positive effects on the community.

For more information contact, Casey Malone at (330) 501-1165.