KOOTENAI COUNTY, Idaho — There was much to celebrate at the Kootenai County Mental Health Court’s 20-year anniversary Thursday.
The four phase program works to help change the life of participants who have been convicted of a felony by addressing their mental health needs.
Since the program first started in 2004, just over 200 people have graduated. Thursday, the court celebrated three more graduates.
“It’s helped me gain the tools that I needed to stay sober,” said graduate Josh Johnson. “I relapsed one time, but after that I pulled myself out of it, got my kid back, got a place to live, and graduated.”
Johnson started the program three years ago. Thursday, he stood proudly in front of a packed courtroom as he was awarded with his graduation certificate.
Once participants graduate from the program, they have to complete anywhere from 6 months to a year of probation and after-care treatment. After that, their felony convictions can be reduced to misdemeanors or even have it completely dismissed.
“It’s just so great to be a family again with you,” said one graduate’s family member.
The program takes a minimum of 18 months to complete.
“They’re in treatment for about 20 hours per week, both individual therapy as well as group classes,” said the court’s program director Mary Wolfinger. “Then we require them to go to sober support meetings. Then they meet with their probation officer once a week, as well as coming to court every week to do a check in with the judge.”
Once participants graduate, they have to complete probation and after-care treatment in order to have their felonies reduced to a misdemeanor or in some cases, dismissed.
As Christine Cordeau received her graduation certificate, she said she was almost two years sober and thanked the program for helping her reach that milestone.
“It set the stage for me to develop habits that created a successful life like and changed my perception of my own reality and just what was around me,” Cordeau said.
Cordeau recently started her own floral business called Sticks Florist.
The court also celebrated Judge John T. Mitchell, who has been in charge of the program since it started. That judge will soon be retiring and another judge will be taking over.
All three graduates expressed their gratitude for Judge Mitchell. One person said he believes Judge Mitchell has impacted more lives in the community than anyone else.
“He’s just so inspiring, and he’s just a nice guy, like, you can tell he’s really heartfelt everything he does. It’s not for a paycheck, it is for the love of other people,” Cordeau said.
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