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DWI Court: A long journey
Published 08:27 a.m., September 9, 2009
Judge Wally Senyk looked in Tony Johnson’s eyes and saw that he wanted to change.
When he offered Johnson the chance to complete Otter Tail County’s new DWI Court program, he said Johnson looked like he was ready to reach his goals.
Last Friday Johnson had been sober for 733 days and has spent the past 18 months completing the DWI Court program.
A crowd gathered Friday afternoon at the Otter Tail County Courthouse for a ceremony celebrating Johnson’s graduation from the DWI Court program. Johnson is the first graduate of the program.
It’s been a long road, but a great year and a half, Johnson said before becoming emotional. He wouldn’t have done it any differently, he added.
“It got me ready for life and I needed that,” Johnson said, adding that the program changed his life in so many ways.
Johnson began the program after a 2nd degree DWI arrest and his license had been revoked. He had a 15-month-old daughter and baby on the way, probation agent Hallie Metcalf told the crowd.
He successfully completed the four phases of the program, which included treatment in Detroit Lakes, submitting to random testing and attending Alcoholics Anonymous meetings, Metcalf said. He’s had no violations during the program.
He’s also started his own construction business, is looking to buy a home, had his driver’s license back for 11 months and is starting an AA group in the Vergas area, Metcalf said, adding that it was an honor to work with him.
As a result of Johnson being the first participant, the committee learned a lot from him, Judge Barbara Hanson said. As situations arose, the committee had to think about how its decisions affect the participants.
Johnson’s success at completing the program speaks well to the program, Hanson said. The length of the program has helped sobriety become a part of his new life and he’s maintained stability in all areas, including work, relationships and housing, she said, adding that they are all wonderful accomplishments.
Otter Tail County’s DWI Court began in March 2008 and has 20 participants, Human Services Director John Dinsmore told the crowd.
Noting that “it takes a village to raise a child,” participants work with many people in the program, Dinsmore said.
Addiction is daunting and presents challenges for all of us, Dinsmore said. However, people become more powerful when they come together and become successful in life, he said.
The mission of the DWI Court is to enhance public safety by reducing the number of fatal and severe injury traffic crashes related to substance use, and to reduce the number of repeat offenders.
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