LIHUE — For five individuals, Monday was a milestone event at the Fifth Circuit Court before Judge Michael Soong.
Roberta Bactad, Abraham Balmores, Danny Enriques, Brianna Isono and Stephan Turner had their respective charges dismissed by the Office of the Prosecuting Attorney as a reward for completing the Kauai Drug Court curriculum that typically takes up to two years or more.
“You are free,” said Soong. “You have the tools and resources you need to become good members of the community. From this day, you are no longer in the jurisdiction of the court.”
Under the guidance of new Kauai Drug Court Administrator Ikaika Macabeo, and the event’s keynote speaker, Judge Kathleen Watanabe, Monday’s 45th Kauai Drug Court graduation was the first since the COVID-19 pandemic shut everything down.
The graduates — including Balmores who just became a father on Saturday — and Isono — who wanted to see her daughter’s face — agreed this was one of the greatest feelings to experience.
Balmores, who broke down emotionally during his personal delivery, received a pack of Huggies for his new baby from the Kauai Drug Court staff along with the diploma and paperwork dismissing his charges.
The staff further personalized the courtroom proceedings by creating individualized name signs for each of the graduates, and prepared a small luncheon following the ceremonies.
Since its start in 2003, the Kauai Drug Court has graduated some 280 people with the support of the Kauai United Way and the Friends of the Kauai Drug Court led by Council Chair Mel Rapozo.
Aided by Mary Ann Ornellas, Kim Cummings, Nicole Takenaka-Pongasi, Malia Kerr and Theresa Koki, the mission of the Friends group is to provide financial assistance with funding of Drug Court Client Needs in rehabilitation and in staff training. The Friends provides incentives for positive behavior and for document completion of the various stages while in the Drug Court program.
The Kauai Drug Court, under the Judiciary’s Probation department, was established in August 2003 in response to a community outcry for more effective programs and help in treating offenders with substance abuse problems.
The mission of the Kauai Drug Court program is to divert nonviolent substance abusing offenders to treatment and rehabilitation as an alternative to incarceration by providing a cost efficient system that keeps substance abusing offenders productive and reduces recidivism while involving the community in the process.
For more information, call the Friends at 808-482-2363.
