September 8, 2023

JOLIET – State’s Attorney James Glasgow announces that 25 people graduated from the Will County Problem Solving Courts in a September 7 ceremony at the Jacob Henry Mansion in Joliet. The event celebrated the Drug Court’s 25^th anniversary, which was marked with a proclamation by the Will County Executive and County Board. Glasgow wrote the grants in 1998 that led to the establishment of the Will County Drug Court which convened for the first time in 2000.

“Twenty-five years ago, when I wrote that grants that established the Will County Drug Court, I recognized there was a dire need to provide assistance to individuals who wanted to turn their lives around and needed the ongoing support and safety net to do so,” Glasgow said. “For too long, society treated substance use disorders as a moral failing. That is not the case. People turn to substance use to address physical and emotional pain.  By addressing the underlying issues through counseling and our supportive programming, we are helping individuals turn their lives around which benefits all of Will County.”

At its August 17 meeting, the Will County Executive and County Board unanimously approved a proclamation recognizing the Drug Court’s 25^thanniversary, commending its growth “from the original twelve (12) participants to more than one hundred (100) participants at any given time,” and proclaiming that the County Executive and Board “extend their appreciation for its ongoing commitment to the citizens of Will County.”

Thursday’s program honored fifteen Drug Court graduates, from Joliet, Lockport, Wilmington, Manhattan, New Lenox, and Gardner; one Veterans Court graduate, from Joliet; and nine Mental Health Court graduates, who hail from Joliet, Naperville, and Crete. To date, 834 individuals have turned their lives around through the Will County diversionary court program.

In addition to remarks by Glasgow, program alumna Anthony Thompson, Problem Solving Court Coordinator Dr. Scott DuBois, and Associate Judge Frederick Harvey addressed the graduates.

In addition to his leadership in initiating the Will County Drug Court, Glasgow established the Mental Health Court in 2010 along with Will County Chief Judge Gerald Kinney, filed the petition requesting the formation of the Will County Veterans Court in 2012, and wrote and obtained the grant for the Redeploy Illinois Court to steer qualifying repeat offenders away from prison and into gainful employment. Although Redeploy Illinois no longer is a separate program, it continues to provide funding for individuals to participate in the three other diversionary court programs.

Glasgow also established three transitional residence facilities to further help Problem Solving Court participants on the path to reentry into the workforce. The Miller Taylor House and Julie Ann House provide temporary housing, and the Connor Kelly Residence opened its doors in 2019 to provide longer-term transitional housing.