Twelfth Circuit Solicitor Ed Clements has started an adult drug court, a program he has dreamed of creating for some time.
Drug court allows people who have been in trouble for non-violent crimes to get a second chance.
"Even before I came solicitor, being up in general sessions court seeing all the people up there it doesn't take a rocket science to figure out the vast majority of cases up there are fueled by substance abuse, " said Clements.
Clements added his drug court is modeled after similar courts in other parts of the country.
Offenders will plead guilty to their charges and their sentence is deferred until they complete the program.
If they meet all the requirements, they can possibly avoid jail time.
Adult drug court is no easy course and Clements says offenders have to meet with court officials every week and undergo random drug tests twice a week.
"First, it's not for someone who just is a weekend abuser of drugs, this is for someone who truly is an addict. And they need help and they recognize they need help."
He says his staff is very dedicated and they really want to help substance abusers turn their lives around.
Tim Suggs is the program coordinator. He believes in this program and wants to see people overcome their addictions.
"I've always believed that I have been called to invest in people and this particular role that I serve provides me an opportunity to invest in people", explained Suggs.
Suggs says he's already seen a big difference in the life of a 22-year-old man enrolled in the program.
"At first it was a little bumpy, but this individual has really started to open up and understands that the team cares for . That this is not the court trying to put more on him, but that the teams actually cares for him," Suggs added.
Solicitor Clements believes this program will work and transform addicts into productive citizens.
The program seeks to enroll at least 40 people in the next couple of years.
