Graduates express thanks for Drug Court

Two graduates of the Union County Drug Court program expressed gratitude Tuesday at the opportunity for growth they were given by the program.

Malcolm Burgess and Gregory Carr graduated the five-phase program Tuesday, with Judge Hamilton Singleton congratulating them on their hard work and wishing them well in future endeavors.

“I think it’s just the first step on the staircase to success,” Burgess said of his graduation. “I’m just going up.”

“This is the longest period of time I’ve been sober since I was 13 years old,” Carr said. “It became apparent to me, as the months went on, that my life was getting better [thanks to the program].”

Singleton said he was “so proud” of both men before shaking their hands and dismissing them from the courtroom.

The Union County Drug Court was established 17 years ago in order to move non-violent drug offenders to a court that gives them the opportunity to undergo substance abuse treatment. Participants also submit to frequent and random drug tests and are monitored by the court.

At the time of its inception in 2001, then-Prosecuting Attorney Jamie Pratt said the program was “a handson approach to alleviate drug addiction and drug crimes.”

Broderick Burns was named the Drug Court Client of the Month. Singleton asked Burns how his outlook had changed since entering the program, and Burns told him about plans for his future he has started making and enacting. He said he has an idea for a business he would like to start and that he has been working on getting more involved in his child’s life.

“I’m just trying to stay focused,” Burns said.

“That’s good, keeping your child and your child’s mother as the highlight of your focus,” Singleton said.

Singleton returned to the bench then and proceeded with the rest of the Drug Court clients. Several other clients “leveled up,” moving on to the next phase of their treatment, including Anthony Caldwell, Luke Walden and Willie Warner.

“You have a fantastic focus and a positive attitude,” Singleton told Warner, going on to ask how he was able to stay on track.

“I didn’t like jail when I was there,” Warner replied.