Greater Cleveland Drug Court Ceremony Goes On the Road: Giving Hope to Families Fighting Addiction

Oct 20, 2016

The 53rd Graduation Ceremony of the Greater Cleveland Drug Court under the direction of Cleveland Municipal Judge Lauren C. Moore, took place Wednesday, October 19, 2016 at 6:30 p.m. at the Garfield Heights Civic Center, located at 5407 Turney Road, in Garfield Heights.

Contact: Ed Ferenc, Public Information Officer
Cleveland Municipal Court
216 664 6787 / 216 789 2597
[email protected] www.cmcoh.org

(Cleveland) – The 53rd Graduation Ceremony of the Greater Cleveland Drug Court under the direction of Cleveland Municipal Judge Lauren C. Moore, took place Wednesday, October 19, 2016 at 6:30 p.m. at the Garfield Heights Civic Center, located at 5407 Turney Road, in Garfield Heights.

The Garfield Heights Municipal Court is one of eight municipal courts

who have been able to participate in the Greater Cleveland Drug Court Program because of a $975,000 federal grant awarded in 2013. Garfield Heights Municipal Judge Deborah J. Nicastro was excited to have the ceremony in her community.

“Outstanding and committed are the best words to describe the Drug Court staff and having the ceremony here gives hope to local families who have loved ones suffering from addiction. We know treatment can work and we saw that with the graduates tonight,” said Judge Nicastro.

A total of 20 people graduated, which brings the total number of people who successfully completed the program to 1,580 since it began 18 years ago. Of that number, over 70% remain sober and drug-free.

The keynote speaker for the ceremony was Anita Bertrand Bradley, founder and Executive Director of the Northern Ohio Recovery Association (NORA). Bradley has been in recovery for over 24 years, serving as a clinician and administrator, receiving numerous awards for leadership and volunteer service. The White House even called on her to lend expertise on substance abuse and prevention.

Specialized dockets (like the Greater Cleveland Drug Court) are courts that are dedicated to specific types of offenses or offenders and use a combination of different techniques for holding offenders accountable while also addressing the underlying causes of their behavior. There are more than 150 specialized dockets in Ohio. In 2014, the docket was certified by the Supreme Court of Ohio.

The Drug Court Program began in the Cleveland Municipal Court in 1998 and has since expanded throughout Cuyahoga County.