The College welcomes Minnesota Supreme Court Chief Justice to Aug. 15 event

Release Date: 08/14/09

The College of St. Scholastica's new Recovery Services Program, Clean, will sponsor the Sixth Judicial District Specialty Courts Anniversary Celebration at 7 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 15, in the Mitchell Auditorium on the St. Scholastica campus.

Among the speakers will be Minnesota Supreme Court Chief Justice Eric Magnuson and Rep. Roger Reinert, DFL-Duluth.

The event is not open to the public.

The Specialty Courts have worked with over 200 DWI and drug offenders since the program began in 2002. Offenders participate in a one-year or 18-month program which includes attending court every week, submitting to random drug testing and home visits, and receiving individually-tailored treatment.

"We want to be part of what the Specialty Court is doing," said Ben Bertsch, Recovery Services Program Coordinator at St. Scholastica. "We see people who have dramatically changed their lives through the program and believe that college is a reasonable next step. We're here to provide a transition out of the structure of the DWI courts and into a college environment."

Clean Recovery Services at St. Scholastica provides a welcoming and supportive community where students in recovery from chemical dependency, who are committed to a life of sobriety, can strengthen their skills to enhance their academic, professional and personal development. Clean also provides programs and services to the Twin Ports recovery community.

The Specialty Court program "has led to a lower relapse rate and takes pressure off the legal system," said Brian Lukasavitz, Drug Court coordinator, "and for every $1 spent in drug court, at least $10 is saved."

Over 300 participants, graduates, team-members and their families are expected at the Aug. 15 event.

In addition to Magnuson and Reinert the event will feature Minnesota Supreme Court Assistant Chief Judge Shaun Floerke and Cheryl Harder of the Arrowhead Regional Corrections/Northeast Regional Corrections Center.

Local radio personality Duke Skorich will host the event. Music and testimonials from graduates, current clients, family members and program supporters will also be featured.

For more information about Clean, visit www.clean4life.org or contact Bertsch at (218) 723-6527 or bbertsch@css.edu.

For more information about the Specialty Court event, contact Lukasavitz at (218) 302-6207 or brian.lukasavitz@courts.state.mn.us.