PORT TOWNSEND — Seven men stood in a packed Jefferson County Superior Courtroom and got their lives back.

One by one, the men stood up in front of photographs of themselves taken when they were arrested and shared a part of their stories with friends, family and some strangers who attended drug court graduation on Thursday.

Judge Craddock Verser, who is usually a commanding presence with a booming voice from atop his seat in Superior Court, instead smiled and offered words of encouragement, congratulations and handshakes to men he had known in a professional capacity for the last few years.

Prosecuting Attorney Juelie Dalzell, who is more often in an adversarial role to those attending court proceedings, offered hugs before throwing case files in the trash.

“Your case is dismissed,” she told each graduate.

“That means it’s no longer on your record.”

Rehabilitation program

Drug Court is Jefferson County’s rehabilitation program for nonviolent offenders who have been addicted to drugs.

The county has a high recidivism rate for drug offenders, Dalzell said.

She estimated that more than 50 percent of those who go to court for a drug offense will be back in court if they serve time in prison.

“There are several circumstances that transpire to create an addiction,” she said.

“This program gives them a chance to fix that, to be human beings again.”

The program is mostly unfunded.

State money does pay for the rehabilitation facilities; however, court and lawyer time is donated by attorneys and judges.

That includes time from Dalzell, Verser, Deputy Prosecuting Attorney Scott Rosecrans and Ted DeBray and public defender Richard Davies.

“We do this because it works,” Verser said.

“Some places don’t have this because prosecutors don’t want to look soft on crime, but it does work.”

Many more on waiting list

Currently, 27 people are in the county’s rehabilitation program.

Many more are on a waiting list.

Dalzell said she didn’t have numbers showing the success of the program, but the qualitative data were obvious on Thursday.

Looking clean, sounding sober and expressing their gratitude, the seven men all stood and thanked everyone who took the time to help them.

Nathan Loftus of Bremerton came back from military service in Iraq, began using methamphetamine and was arrested, he said.

He lived out in the county and had to get a ride to Port Townsend three times a week to be at classes by 7 a.m.

“It was hard to show up, but if I could get there, I knew it would be OK,” Loftus said.

“Even if I didn’t have a ride home at the end of the day, I knew it was going to be OK because I was there.”

Loftus said the program was difficult.

“Along with coming back from basic training and coming back from Iraq, Drug Court was one of the hardest things I ever had to do.

“It’s going to be hard now too, but with faith anything is possible.

“All of you still in drug court, you can do it, and it’s worth it.”

Loftus said he has a son who now will have a father, and a girlfriend who now has someone to support her.

“It’s going to be OK.”

Dean Carver went to drug court four times before he finally graduated. He said he’s glad he did.

“I want to thank them for accepting me so many times,” he said.

“I needed it. Let’s have a round of applause for these people who do this.”

Justin Campbell, Ryan Herb, Duane Logue, Jonathon Miceli and Shane Potter all echoed that statement.

Potter looked like a different person from the photograph taken of him when he was arrested on investigation of possession of methamphetamine and a dangerous weapon.

He laughed as he got a framed copy to take home.

“Not someone you want to meet in a dark alley,” he joked.

“He was one of those people we thought was a career criminal,” Dalzell said. “And now he’s changed.

“We all love doing drug court because we believe in it, and Shane here proves it works.”

Potter hugged Dalzell and shook Verser’s hand, then spoke to the full courtroom.

“It’s been hard,” he said. “It’s been tough, but I like it.

“I’ve found that I like doing community service, and I do it now without being forced.

“I’m thankful for the friends I’ve made in this program, and I’m thankful for all of you for doing this for me. Thank you.”

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Jefferson County reporter Erik Hidle can be reached at 360-385-2335 or at erik.hidle@peninsuladailynews.com.