Roxanne Kasper knows why a large crowd of people gathered outside the Lackawanna County Courthouse on Wednesday to pay tribute to Judge Michael J. Barrasse's drug and alcohol treatment court.
She is alive, doing well and sober three years because of it, one of numerous success stories that caught the attention of a national drug court association that held a rally to honor the judge's focus on rehabilitation and the court's treatment programs.
"I was on death row doing heroin," Ms. Kasper, 52, of Throop, whose addiction landed her in front of Judge Barrasse after she was charged with retail theft.
She joined countless other graduates of the county's treatment court who stood side by side with representatives of the region's law enforcement community for the rally hosted by the National Association of Drug Court Professionals.
Association officials have crisscrossed the country since April to recognizesuccessful treatment courts.
"These are the communities we must highlight because we believe that anyone who saw this here today and who sees what goes on in any of the courtrooms in this county would demand that they have one in their hometown," association spokesman Chris Deutsch told the crowd before he handed awards to Judge Barrasse and his treatment court colleagues, Judges Trish Corbett and Vito P. Geroulo.
State Attorney General Kathleen Kane and State Police Commissioner Frank Noonan also spoke at rally.
Judge Barrasse said its success is due to counselors, police, public defenders, nonprofits and the people who work the program to try to better their lives - not just him.
"This award really is to each one of you that have taken it seriously, that have made the changes in your life. We thank you, your family thanks you, and as we move forward please have the courage to keep using the tools" of recovery, he said.
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