The Dunkirk City Treatment Court team is pleased to announce a celebration of success – a ceremony for the most recent set of graduates of the Dunkirk City Treatment Court program. The Honorable John M. Kuzdale, Treatment Court Judge, and Elizabeth Delcamp, Resource Coordinator, invite members of the community to honor the individual successes of these graduates and their continued journey towards a lifestyle of active recovery.

The mission of the Dunkirk City Treatment Court program “is to provide protection for the community from repeat drug and alcohol offenders by administering timely and effective treatment and supervision.” The program works to address the needs of justice-involved persons with a substance use disorder – enabling their reintegration into the community as productive members – while balancing public safety.

The Dunkirk City Treatment Court started in 2002 with just three participants. Today there are 45 participants. Each was facing incarceration. Instead of going to jail or prison, they elected to postpone their sentencing and enter the Dunkirk Treatment Court Program, signing a contract to diligently work towards the goals of the treatment program. Participants attend various types of treatment, including inpatient and outpatient, depending on their individual needs. They are also required to attend self-help meetings, connect with a certified recovery coach or sponsor and obtain employment or attend an educational or vocational program. Upon graduation, participants may have their charges reduced or dismissed.

At the ceremony, the graduates will have the opportunity to tell their own story, relating how the Dunkirk City Treatment Court program helped them rebuild their lives.

The Dunkirk City Treatment Court extends an open invitation to the public to attend the ceremony on Thursday, May 23 at 10 a.m. The graduation will be in Dunkirk City Court, Dunkirk City Hall, 342 Central Avenue, 2nd Floor, Dunkirk, NY 14048.