Congratulations to the Maui/Moloka`i Drug Court's 24th graduating class!

The Maui/Moloka`i Drug Court's 24th commencement ceremony was conducted yesterday at Second Circuit Court, with Chief Judge Shackley Raffetto presiding.

Congratulations to the 13 new graduates!

• Felicisimo Allado
• Dirk Brace
• Mililani Gamurot
• Koiku Hubin
• Edwin Ibuos
• Kahaio Koko
• Larry Kawai
• Danielle Kinnan
• Rafael Lovato
• Jon McGrath
• Andrew Manegdeg
• Ronnie Sialana
• Eric Sodetani

Each of the graduates gave inspiring talks. There was not a dry eye in the house!

The following prominent members of the community also gave excellent speeches:

• Kevin Block, Assistant Director of the MEO-BEST Integration Program
• Brandi Corpuz, MCC Reach for Your Dream Program
• Judge Joseph E. Cardoza, Second Circuit Court

Congratulations to all the graduates, Drug Court and Aloha House staff members, and speakers!

Friends of the Maui Drug Court is proud to sponsor the commencement ceremonies. We thank our donors for making this possible!

Mahalo to everyone who supported the fundraiser and silent auction on Aug. 26!

Friends of the Maui Drug Court raised $855 at Flatbread Company in Pa`ia on Aug. 26!

Generous donors included Konrad's Ship Galley, Kapalua Resort, Dr. & Mrs. Larry Schlesinger, Jo Anne Johnson, and, in memory of Kyle Pestana, ABBA Machinery.

Mahalo!

"By Successfully Completing The Drug Rehab Program, Offenders Can Avoid Incarceration"

From Nikki Espinal's blog regarding Texas drug courts yesterday:

Harris County' s Success Through Addiction Recovery( STAR) adult drug court program addresses" high needs" individuals, so - called because of their extensive substance abuse and criminal histories - people who live vicariously and are especially prone to relapse.

By successfully completing the drug rehab program, offenders can avoid incarceration. - according to the foundation' s web site, drug courts in dallas saved$ 43 for every$ 1 spent. Drug courts across the country, more than 2000 of them now with hundreds more planned, result in tremendous savings to taxpayers by reducing the costs of recidivism and more crime, the judicial system, health care, child support and other areas.

"Drug court offers users a second chance"

From today's Rapid City (S.D.) Journal on the new Meade County Drug Court:

The participants in the program are varied, but all have one thing in
common: substance abuse. One is coming off a 4.0 grade-point-average semester at a local university just a year after living in her car. Another has been a sober and productive member of society for the past two years since staring at 12 years of hard time.

Participants are sent to drug court on the recommendation of the state’s attorney and by the discretion of the judge.

Candidates must be considered drug addicts and cannot be admitted into drug court if they have violent crimes in their past.

Once in the program, their lives are intensively scrutinized, strictly
monitored and highly directed. If participants progress, they can earn rewards, which may include reduced scrutiny, more individual choices and, ultimately, graduation from the program, as one individual did Friday.

Friends of the Maui Drug Court announces list of items for Tuesday night's silent auction in Pa`ia

For Immediate Release: August 24, 2008

Contact:
Friends of the Maui Drug Court
friendsmauidrugcourt@gmail.com

Friends of the Maui Drug Court announces list of items for Tuesday night's silent auction in Pa`ia

PA`IA, Hawai`i - Friends of the Maui Drug Court expresses gratitude to generous donors and announces the following partial list of items for its silent auction at Flatbread Company here on Tuesday night:

- Two complimentary rounds of golf donated by Kapalua Resort.
- A large model ship donated by Konrad's Ship Gallery.
- A gift certificate for dinner at Mala Ocean Tavern donated by Jo Anne Johnson.
- A $25 NAPA Auto Parts gift certificate donated by ABBA Machinery in memory of Kyle Pestana.
- The complete first seasons of "Without a Trace," "NCIS" and "CSI: Miami" on DVD donated anonymously.
- Two passes to the Old Lahaina Luau donated by Dr. & Mrs. S. Larry Schlesinger.
- Eight hundred sheets of premium mulitipurpose office paper donated anonymously.
- A gift certificate for dinner at Flatbread Company donated by Flatbread Company.
- A 25-pound bag of brown rice donated anonymously.

In addition to revenue from the silent auction, Friends of the Maui Drug Court will receive a portion of the proceeds from all pizza sales at Flatbread Company, 89 Hana Highway, from 5 to 10 p.m. on Tuesday.

Friends of the Maui Drug Court is an IRS 501(c)(3) organization devoted to supporting the Maui/Moloka`i Drug Court's efforts to break the cycle of substance abuse and crime in Maui County. Drug Court provides non-violent offenders the opportunity to avoid or minimize incarceration upon completion of an intensive, judicially supervised substance abuse treatment program.

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Friends of the Maui Drug Court awarded $5,000 grant by Dowling Community Improvement Foundation

For Immediate Release: August 20, 2008

Contact: Friends of the Maui Drug Court friendsmauidrugcourt@gmail.com

Friends of the Maui Drug Court awarded $5,000 grant by Dowling Community Improvement Foundation

WAILUKU, Hawai`i – Friends of the Maui Drug Court has received a $5,000 grant from the Dowling Community Improvement Foundation, FMDC President S. Larry Schlesinger, M.D., announced today.

FMDC was founded in 1998 to advocate for the creation of a Drug Court within the State of Hawai`i's Second Circuit Court, based in Wailuku. The Drug Court model, which was initiated in Miami-Dade County, Fla., in 1989, provides non-violent offenders an opportunity to avoid or minimize incarceration upon completion of an intensive, judicially supervised substance abuse treatment program.

As a result of FMDC's advocacy, the Drug Court commenced operations in 2000. Since then, FMDC's mission has been to provide critical ancillary services to support the rehabilitation of Drug Court clients, including milestone awards, medical and dental treatment and child care. Two hundred seventy former defendants have graduated from the Maui/Moloka`i Drug Court.

"We thank the Dowling Community Improvement Foundation for its support of Friends of the Maui Drug Court as we continue to help the Maui/Moloka`i Drug Court break the cycle of substance abuse and crime in Maui County," Dr. Schlesinger said. "Drug Court is a highly cost-efficient program. It is gratifying that prominent community members recognize the importance of effectively addressing the problems of substance abuse and crime by providing significant financial assistance."

Since its inception three years ago, the Dowling Community Improvement Foundation has donated more than $2.6 million to Maui community organizations. Grant applications are available at http://www.dowlingco.com/.

More information about Friends of the Maui Drug Court and the Maui/Moloka`i Drug Court is available at http://mauidrugcourt.info/.

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Watch Drug Court Judge Shackley Raffetto on TV this Wednesday!

Watch Akaku Channel 53 at 7 p.m. on Wednesday, August 13.

Judge Raffetto, recent Drug Court graduate Carly Werner, and others will join host Alan Arakawa on "Reality Check" for a discussion about the Maui/Moloka`i Drug Court.