More than 100 people gathered in the Capitol Rotunda to celebrate Drug Court Day at the Legislature, held Thursday to honor the 1,343 graduates of West Virginia's adult and juvenile drug courts.
Justice Brent Benjamin spoke in remembrance of the more than 6,000 West Virginians who have died from drug-related causes in the last 11 years - the time period drug courts have served the state. As he spoke, black balloons fell from the second-floor of the rotunda.
"Each of these balloons represents ten people. Ten lives lost. Ten families who lost someone they loved. Ten sets of friends who lost someone they cared about. Then people who, if they had not fallen victim to drug abuse, could have contributed to our state," Benjamin said. "It's not easy to quit. That's why people need help. That's why treatment courts are needed. And that's why we should celebrate each precious life that is saved.''
Multi-colored balloons then fell, each balloon representing 10 drug court graduates.
The 2014 Justice Reinvestment Act required adult drug courts to serve all of West Virginia's counties by July 1, 2016. There now are 27 adult drug court programs serving 45 counties and 15 juvenile drug courts serving 20 counties.
There have been 857 graduates from adult drug courts, a graduation rate of 52 percent, and 506 graduates from West Virginia's juvenile drug courts, a graduation rate of 50.5 percent.
Adult and juvenile drug courts are open only to non-violent offenders whose underlying crimes are linked to substance abuse.