Drug court grad takes charge of his recovery

At a recent Steele Waseca Drug Court (SWDC) virtual graduation ceremony, Third District Court Judge Joseph A. Bueltel reminded attendees that addiction can hit anyone.
He went on to congratulate Gerald Pettipiece, the court’s 70th graduate.
Since its inception in July 2014, SWDC Coordinator Nicole Gram said, the drug court program has served 212 participants, with 106 of them either withdrawing – electing to serve their jail or prison time or transfer to another drug court – or being terminated because of new criminal behavior or rejection of services.
An alternative to incarceration, drug courts throughout the country reduce the costs of repeatedly processing high-risk, high-need substance abusers through the courts, jails, and prisons while providing offenders a pathway to recovery.
SWDC’s five-phase program is rigorous, according to Grams. Participants are required to abstain from substance use, to be accountable for their behavior and to fulfill the legal responsibilities of the offenses they have committed.
Weekly or monthly, court attendance is also required depending on which phase of the program a participant is in. Recovery-related programming includes treatment, support meetings, mental health meetings, completion of a cognitive skills program that helps change behaviors and at least three hours of self-help recovery meetings each week.
Participants submit to a minimum of twice-weekly random testing.
Other requirements for graduation from the program include completing treatment, making meaningful connections in the recovery community, obtaining a valid driver’s license, GED/Diploma, employment and compliance with child support and payment of any fines, fees or restitution.
There are currently 37 participants in the SWDC program.
Pettipiece, who entered drug court in October of 2019 on his second felony DWI conviction that involved property, faced a mandatory prison sentence of 42 months. By taking part in drug court, he was allowed to have a downward departure and remain in the community while engaging in rehabilitation services.  
While participating in drug court, Pettipiece underwent 266 days of daily remote alcohol testing and 121 in-person alcohol and drug tests. On graduation day, he’d been sober for 578 days.
“You said you were going to do this program in 18 months and you did,” said Saraj VanHoudt,  Pettipiece’s counselor from House of Hope, during the graduation ceremony. “I’m proud of you.”
To other drug court participants, VanHoudt said, “Jerry is an example that you can be fully compliant the whole way through. If there is a will, there is a way.”
 
 
 
 
Photo: At a recent Steele Waseca Drug Court (SWDC) virtual graduation ceremony, Third District Court Judge Joseph A. Bueltel reminded attendees that addiction can hit anyone.
He went on to congratulate Gerald Pettipiece, the court’s 70th graduate.
Since its inception in July 2014, SWDC Coordinator Nicole Gram said, the drug court program has served 212 participants, with 106 of them either withdrawing – electing to serve their jail or prison time or transfer to another drug court – or being terminated because of new criminal behavior or rejection of services.
An alternative to incarceration, drug courts throughout the country reduce the costs of repeatedly processing high-risk, high-need substance abusers through the courts, jails, and prisons while providing offenders a pathway to recovery.
SWDC’s five-phase program is rigorous, according to Grams. Participants are required to abstain from substance use, to be accountable for their behavior and to fulfill the legal responsibilities of the offenses they have committed.
Weekly or monthly, court attendance is also required depending on which phase of the program a participant is in. Recovery-related programming includes treatment, support meetings, mental health meetings, completion of a cognitive skills program that helps change behaviors and at least three hours of self-help recovery meetings each week.
Participants submit to a minimum of twice-weekly random testing.
Other requirements for graduation from the program include completing treatment, making meaningful connections in the recovery community, obtaining a valid driver’s license, GED/Diploma, employment and compliance with child support and payment of any fines, fees or restitution.
There are currently 37 participants in the SWDC program.
Pettipiece, who entered drug court in October of 2019 on his second felony DWI conviction that involved property, faced a mandatory prison sentence of 42 months. By taking part in drug court, he was allowed to have a downward departure and remain in the community while engaging in rehabilitation services.  
While participating in drug court, Pettipiece underwent 266 days of daily remote alcohol testing and 121 in-person alcohol and drug tests. On graduation day, he’d been sober for 578 days.