Participant credits Reno County Drug Court as May marks National Treatment Court Month

A participant in the Reno County Drug Court said the program and corrections staff helped them avoid prison or death and begin changing their life.

"I'm really thankful for the crew of my corrections officer and, you know, the people that supported me," the participant said, adding, "I thought I was gonna be dead or in prison." The speaker said they had given up on themselves in the past but that support from the program and staff helped them commit to changing their lifestyle.

A presenter announced that May is National Treatment Court Month and described the local program. "The Reno County Drug Court is a treatment intervention built around the influence and personal involvement of a single drug court judge working with the drug court team and the participant," the presenter said, adding that "the goal is stopping the cycle of substance misuse and criminal behavior."

Why it matters: Treatment courts are designed to pair judicial oversight with treatment and case management to reduce substance misuse and related criminal behavior. Firsthand accounts from participants are often used by program administrators and advocates to illustrate personal outcomes and the human impact of those interventions.

What happened next: These remarks were delivered as part of an observance of National Treatment Court Month. No motions, votes, or formal actions were recorded in the provided transcript excerpt.

Details and limitations: The transcript excerpt contains personal testimony and a program description but does not provide data on program outcomes, participant counts, funding sources, or next procedural steps. Those details were not specified in the excerpt.