SW Arizona News

The 98th Yuma County Adult Drug Court graduation ceremony recently took place, marking a significant milestone for seven individuals who have completed the program. This event is part of a broader initiative that has been in place since 1998, aiming to provide drug-addicted defendants with an opportunity to lead substance-free lives.

The Yuma County Adult Drug Court Program is a court-supervised treatment initiative designed to mitigate the effects of drug addiction on both individuals and the community. It involves coordinated intervention, supervision, incentives, sanctions, drug education, and treatment. Participants are required to make regular court appearances before a designated judge and undergo frequent drug testing. Treatment includes individual and group counseling sessions and attendance at recovery-based support meetings.

Judge Haws and Judge Weede were present at the ceremony alongside the graduates. The event is held quarterly and is open to the public, with live broadcasts available on Facebook for those unable to attend in person.

"The disease of addiction does not discriminate," said one attendee. "Recent national statistics show a 61% increase in drug use among 8th graders between 2016 and 2020."

In addition to the Adult Drug Court, Yuma County also operates Juvenile Drug Court, Mental Health Court for individuals with significant mental health disorders, and Veterans Treatment Court for military veterans involved in the justice system.

Ian McGaughey, Yuma County Administrator, expressed his gratitude towards everyone involved in these programs: "Heartfelt thanks to everyone who is involved – keep up the great work."

Annette Hernandez has been spotlighted as an administrative assistant within Adult Probation. She manages administrative caseloads related to probationers in immigration custody or those who have been deported. Hernandez tracks discharge dates for over 200 cases and coordinates with various agencies including Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and Arizona Department of Corrections.

Hernandez shared some personal insights through a Q&A session where she discussed her daily routine starting with reading InTouch daily devotionals and her adventurous experience searching for alligators in the bayou.

The newsletter also highlighted CASA volunteers during their 31st Annual Recognition Banquet. Juvenile Judge Levi Gunderson stated: “CASA volunteers are a great help within our juvenile court system.” Edward Gilligan added: “These volunteers are essential... they do an incredible job.”

Upcoming events include virtual author talks hosted by the Yuma County Free Library District as part of their Summer Reading Program. Authors such as Matthew Shindell, Freida McFadden, and Tiffany Jewell will be featured throughout June.

New hires across various departments were announced along with recent promotions within Development Services and Library Districts.

For more information about county events or services like Telehealth or Employee Assistance Programs (EAP), residents can visit relevant websites or contact provided phone numbers.