Laclede County Treatment Court holds graduation ceremony

Laclede County Treatment Court hosted a graduation Friday for its two newest graduates. Allon Campbell and Kaytlyn Dieman were recognized in a ceremony at the courthouse for successfully completing the program. Family members and supporters gathered in a Laclede County courtroom for the ceremony. Treatment courts are an option for people in the criminal justice system dealing with substance abuse issues. Treatment courts divert offenders from incarceration in prisons and allow offenders to remain in the community, to work, pay taxes and support their families. This is the court's fifth graduation. Judge Larry Winfrey said the city of Lebanon has supported the treatment court with funding. "Our big struggle is with housing and transportation," he said. He said the City of Lebanon has provided them with three housing units and a Lebanon Area Foundation grant may fund a fourth unit. He said the program originally had three participants and now has 20.  "We're hoping to keep that number rising," he said. Winfrey said treatment court is different from traditional court. "I never wear this robe in treatment court and our roles are different," he said. He said in treatment court, his role is to support the participants. In an interview about the program last year, Winfrey said they put together a plan to help the offender succeed. “Then we go into court and meet with the participant, it’s a completely different concept from criminal court,” he said. “I’m not wearing a robe, I tell them I’m not here to judge you, I’m here to help you.” For more on this story, see Wednesday's LCR.