LIHU‘E — The Kaua‘i Drug Court held its 20th graduation Friday, a ceremony for five individuals who celebrated a transitional moment that changed their lives. Judge Kathleen N. A. Watanabe of the 5th Circuit presided over the graduation, and congratulated
LIHU‘E — The Kaua‘i Drug Court held its 20th graduation Friday, a ceremony for five individuals who celebrated a transitional moment that changed their lives.
Judge Kathleen N. A. Watanabe of the 5th Circuit presided over the graduation, and congratulated the graduates for hard work and learning the tools to help them deal with life. Also present was Chief Judge Randal Valenciano.
“Graduating doesn’t make it easy,” Watanabe said. “You are crossing a threshold from that of a client to become an alumni, and you must use the tools that you have learned to face the challenges of everyday life.”
There have been 123 graduates since the program started, Watanabe said. In that time only three have returned to the criminal justice system for a felony conviction.
Those statistics speak for themselves, Watanabe said. She called it a win for the defendants and a win for the community when the people who would not benefit from jail have programs to turn their lives around.
Drug Court saves valuable county resources and up to $50,000 per year in housing a defendant in jail, she said. In return, the defendants are contributing something back to through service and learning the tools to regain their lives and become valuable members of the community.
The graduation is an official hearing to either dismisses a case or satisfies the terms of a probation to have a case expunged.
The state was represented by County Prosecuting Attorney Shaylene Iseri-Carvalho. She said Drug Court has a lower recidivism rate than many treatment centers.
That credit went to the Drug Court team led by Joseph Savino, program administrator, who told the graduates to relish their accomplishment, but to take the tools they learned with them to use in meeting the challenges of everyday life. He reminded them of statistics that say some would relapse or wind up in court again.
“Prove the statistics wrong,” Savino said.
Senior Probation Officers Jennifer Tone and Martin Steinhaus served as emcees. Other Drug Court staff present included Tori Ann Laranio and Substance Abuse Counselor Araceli Gonzalez.
Savino said Drug Court now has three major community service projects with participants giving back more than 370 work hours to the community. Altogether, more than 120 volunteers from government, business, nonprofit and faith-based organizations support Drug Court in these and other efforts.
County Councilman Mel Rapozo was also present as President of the Friends of Drug Court. The organization, along with United Way of Kaua’i and Visitor Industry Charity Walk, provides material support including equipment and food for community service events.
“This program obviously works,” Rapozo said. “It gives people a second chance.”
The graduates included Leo Isamu Corpuz, who had a 2010 case involving a second-degree theft. He said that it all began as a teenager smoking marijuana and drinking.
Corpuz said that he wasn’t a heavy meth user but that it gradually took hold and that is hurt most to lose the respect of his family. It was the importance he placed on regaining that trust that motivated him to complete the program.
“I want to thank the people who have helped me along the way,” Corpuz said, starting with God, his family, Drug Court and his probation officer Tori Ann Laranio.
Reid Michael Yoshida had faced multiple third-degree dangerous drugs and fourth-degree harmful drug charges in a 2010 case. He thanked his treatment specialist Gerald McKenna, M.D., and the judges for keeping him in line while he gathered control over his life again.
Yoshida is now studying for a career in media and psychology.
Shawn K. Joseph faced 2010 charges of detrimental and harmful drugs and a DUI. When he had lost everything, he said it was his family and friends who continued to believe in him and that is what made it possible to begin to believe in himself once again.
“I want to thank the state for this program. It really works and I am grateful,” Joseph said. “This is truly a second chance and I don’t take it lightly.”
Richard Francis Coyne said he came to Kaua‘i to retire, but found himself in circumstances that led to burglary, property damage, harassment and DUI charges in a 2010 case. He said the arrest alerted him to his alcoholism and that Drug Court may have added years to his life.
Most alcoholics don’t live to much past age 60, he said. This was the point where he was going to change or continue down the same path.
Drug Court taught the value of rehabilitation and unconditional support versus incarceration, Coyne said. He is applying this life experience to a new vocation and is currently studying for an addiction counseling certificate.
Savan Tuazon had a 2007 case involving burglary, theft and criminal property damage charges. He said his low point came after a decade of addiction and realized that everyone hated him for still living like a boy.
“My mom said ‘you are 30 now and that it is time to find your joy and your passion’,” Tuazon said.
It was the stern compassion of his mother and father that helped him recapture a sense of who he once was. They were there during the difficult moments.
State Deputy Public Defender John Calma was in court as Tuazon’s attorney, but also to represent the public defender’s office.
“Drug Court is a good thing,” Calma said. “Everyone supports it.”
Private attorney Daniel Hempey was present as the counsel for Joseph, Corpuz and Coyne. He said the most important requirement for Drug Court is a sincere desire to seek change.
Helen Mattingly, a Drug Court alumna, offered encouraging words to the graduates. In the years since her graduation in 2008, she has become a small business owner and continues working to restore broken relationships.
You hit rock-bottom when you lose your voice, your dignity and your self-respect, she said. It was Drug Court that she said helped her to restore a sense of purpose and a foundation from which to begin making the right choices in life.
County Life’s Choices Coordinator Theresa Koki congratulated the graduates for turning their lives around on behalf of Mayor Bernard P. Carvalho Jr. She encouraged them to continue making the right choices for themselves, and thanked their families for supporting them throughout their recovery.
“Keep using your skills to move forward,” Koki said.
State officials present included Sen. Ronald Kouchi and Reps. James Tokioka, D-15th District, Derek Kawakami, D-14th District, and Dee Morikawa, D-16th District.
