No one thought he had much of a chance. But Harris has been drug free since that day. He has a job. The electronic monitoring bracelet came off his ankle last month. Common Pleas Judge Lester Nauhaus calls Harris and other drug court success stories his heroes.
Drug court is modeled after a program in Miami and is now being offered in hundreds of cities.
In a series of stories, the Post-Gazette has tracked the efforts of several participants in Allegheny County's program. But Nauhaus is unabashedly enthusiastic. The party and presents were paid for by drug forfeiture money collected through the courts. The reason, she said, is that it often represents the first time a program participant has successfully completed anything. The first five people who graduated were surrounded by their families.