POLK COUNTY —The Polk County Treatment Court proudly announced the graduation of Justin from its program on September 5th. The ceremony, presided over by the Honorable Judge Jeffery Anderson, marked a significant milestone not only for Justin, but also for the Polk County community.
When he entered the program in 2023, Justin was struggling with sobriety and making his scheduled appointments; Justin was also facing challenges such as unstable housing, unemployment, and a suspended driver’s license. During his time in treatment court, Justin was able to utilize Onyx Sober Living, a resource that offers safe sober living spaces for men in early recovery. By sticking to the treatment court program, Justin was able to maintain sobriety and has secured full-time employment, regained his driver’s license, obtained stable housing, and built a foundation for long-term recovery.
“I watched you grow from a guy who had a big bushy beard, someone who was very quiet and very conservative,” said a fellow alumni from Onyx. “I watched you move to Onyx. I’ve watched you every step of the way, and I wanted to see you here on your day.”
At the graduation hearing, Judge Anderson acknowledged Justin’s progress and the commitment it took to reach this point. He emphasized that treatment court is designed to offer individuals an opportunity to rebuild their lives—not only for themselves, but also for their families and the broader community.
“Sobriety is not easy. It can be hard to understand that some friends might be bad friends,” said Judge Anderson. “But I understand that today Justin has been able to support others in recovery and be a positive role model to others in the program.”
“Do you have guidance to those individuals who hope to be seated where you are sitting today?” Judge Anderson asked.
“What you learned in your program: be open, honest, and willing,” replied Justin. “Your worst day high won’t be better than the worst day sober; I’d rather be sober because yeah, it might suck, but I’ll get through it and I’ll be in the state of mind to make the proper decisions.”
The Polk County Treatment Court team, which includes representatives from the district attorney’s office, public defender’s office, probation, jail staff, and treatment providers, joined in applauding Justin’s achievements. By graduation, Justin had attended over 62 treatment court status hearings, attended over 470 support meetings, gave 242 negative drug and alcohol tests throughout his time in treatment court, completed over 60 hours of community service, and was 405 days sober in the program.
“I’ve seen you show up at sober events by yourself,” said another Onyx alumni, at the end of Justin’s graduation. “Every single day you show up. I got to a lot of meetings in this area; a lot. And you are always there. Always.”
“You are a walking testament that this can be done.”
About Treatment Court:
The Polk County Treatment Court is a program of the Criminal Justice Coordinating Council (CJCC). The mission of the Polk County CJCC is to reduce crime and recidivism in Polk County through programming such as the Treatment Court, which aims to reduce the destructive cycle of substance use and mental health disorder.
Last Update: Sep 15, 2025 10:52 am CDT
