Fed Drug Court Thanksgiving feast celebrates 2nd-chance success stories

The luncheon served as an opportunity for participants and their families to celebrate their recovery together with the Drug Court team, which is comprised of judges, probation officers, defense attorneys and recovery specialists, said U.S. Magistrate Judge Michael Aloi.

The Drug Court is a post-plea, pre-adjudication program that gives non-violent drug offenders a second chance at life.

For these individuals, had it not been for their addiction, they likely would not have committed their crimes, said U.S. Probation Officer Jill Henline.

Entering a guilty plea and accepting accountability for their crime is a requirement to be eligible for the Drug Court Program.

Since the program began in 2017, 32 of the 57 applicants to the program have graduated from it, releasing them from a prison sentence.

Many people won’t seek addiction treatment on their own. However, the Drug Court team works with defense attorneys, probation officers and offenders to increase awareness of treatment programs.

“Sometimes people just need a huge, 18-month timeout to get their lives back on track,” Henline said.

Many people who struggle with long-term addiction suffered abuse as a child, have a family history of addiction or struggle with mental health issues, Aloi said.

Drug Court addresses the underlying issues of substance use disorder including socioeconomic issues that exacerbate addiction, including poverty, lack of education and being without a vehicle, home and job.

Drug Court participants stay out of prison, which gives them the opportunity to learn life skills so that they may become contributing members of society.

Participants are given resources to remove obstacles blocking their path to recovery from addiction. That includes drug treatment and testing; assistance obtaining a GED, driver’s license and other personal documents as well as insurance, therapy and dental health check-ups; legal assistance; vocational education; and more, Henline said.

Drug Court participants can even receive assistance purchasing a vehicle on a payment plan, said Drug Court graduate Carissa Moore.

“[As a judge], I have a front row seat to the suffering in my community. And I didn’t take this job to make things worse, I wanted to make things better,” Aloi said.

While courts should be a place of accountability and consequences, they should also be places of hope and second chances, Aloi said.

Aloi asked himself, “what are we doing to serve the most vulnerable [people] in front of us?” Drug Court was his answer.

“Look how we come together to do something this powerful— this beautiful,” Aloi said. “It’s inspiring, right?”

After being hit with a federal drug charge that carried a sentence of seven to eight years, Moore attended the Northern Appalachian Teen Challenge Academy.

After graduating from Teen Challenge and working there as a peer mentor for a year, Moore attended Drug Court and graduated from it last May, resulting in the charges against her being dropped.

Moore now works at the Monongalia County Day Report Center as a peer recovery coach who advocates for participants’ sobriety.

Many Drug Court graduates have started careers in the field of addiction recovery at various programs around the state, Henline said.

As someone who struggled with substance use disorder, Moore brings a unique perspective to the field that many lawyers and defense attorneys may not. She understands addiction on a personal level and is able to empathize with and connect to people seeking help from a debilitating sickness, she said.

“I love it ... be[ing] able to help people in the way I needed help is really nice,” Moore said.