21 Criminal Defendants Graduate From Will Co. Problem Solving Courts

JOLIET, IL — A total of 21 people from the Joliet area whose lives have been changed in dramatic fashion for the better participated in their graduation ceremony inside the Jacob Henry Mansion Estate.

More than 150 people were in the audience last Thursday, Sept. 29, to watch the special ceremony honoring the Will County Problem Solving Courts graduates.

Jason Carmen, who is featured in the main photo of the Joliet Patch with Will County State's Attorney Jim Glasgow, was the alumni speaker. He graduated from Problem Solving Court in 2017.

"Some of you may be thinking about getting high tonight because you’ve finished all the stuff you’ve had to do, you’ve graduated, you passed," Carmen told everyone. "I’ve been at several funerals for people who thought the same thing.

"There’s a different way. Out there, you’re not playing Russian roulette anymore; it’s a full, loaded gun. Period. Fentanyl is in everything. It’s in cocaine. It’s in marijuana. It’s in dope and in pills, anything you can get on the street."

Carmen urged the 21 new graduates to turn to their higher power "what that is."

"And this is the most amazing thing, anyone, from any walk of life, can walk up to me, and they can say, 'Jason I have a problem, I can’t stop getting high, Jason, can you help me?' And my answer is, unequivocally, yes I can. I can help you. That’s one of the great gifts I’ve been give, hope.”

Will County Judge Fred Harvey gave the address to last week's graduates and helped oversee the large event.

Harvey told Patch that all of the Will County Problem Solving Courts graduates had previously pleaded guilty. Some of their criminal cases were dismissed upon successful graduation. Others were given a conviction and a conditional discharge, for instance, if they have prior felony convictions in their past.

"If you need help," Harvey told the graduates, "ask for it. We are here for you."

Harvey, a former Will County Assistant State's Attorney under Glasgow, told the audience that Glasgow launched the Problem Solving Courts program at a time when restorative justice was not popular in the criminal justice system. Prosecutors were under pressure to push for maximum prison terms as often as possible, Harvey remembered.

Since Glasgow established Will County's Problem Solving Courts, a total of 769 criminal defendants have graduated fromthem.

The 21 newest graduates included:

• 2 people from Veterans Court
• 6 people from Mental Health Court
• 13 people from Drug Court

These graduates included residents of Naperville, Joliet, New Lenox, Romeoville, Homer Glen, Plainfield, Wilmington, Lockport, Mokena, Shorewood, Braidwood, University Park, Bolingbrook and Monee.

"Well, we've always kept track of the milestones," Glasgow told Joliet Patch's editor during an interview outside the event. "And we've now passed 750 successful graduates. I think the total now is 769.

"And our recidivism rate is still only about 10 percent, where people are relapsing on drugs, which is just amazing. Of course, now we also have Veterans Court, Mental Health Court and Redeploy Illinois."

Glasgow said the Will County Problem Solving Court system "gives us the resources to do amazing things for these young people that are struggling. As I was saying, hope is the biggest thing. Once you're done here you still have hope because even if you lose your job, you can call us, and, honest to God, we'll try to help you get another job.

"We don't want you out there struggling where the temptations of what got you here in the first place are going to attack. Otherwise, all of our work was a waste," Glasgow explained.

Here's a short summary from some of the 21 graduate biographies:

Daniel Gomez: Joined Mental Health Court in February 2021 after "irresponsible decision-making ... led to a harsh introduction to the legal system ... With court requirements successfully behind him, Mr. Gomez plans to obtain his associates degree and travel as much as possible."

Bernardo "Dino" Leonardo: Joined Mental Health Court in 2019. "When Dino first joined our program, he described his life as hectic ... Dion has been sober for a little over a year now. He looks forward to getting back to full time work with his union, maintaining his sobriety ... and Dino also looks forward to getting his license back in the future and buying his house."

Stevie Booker: Joined the ARI/Drug Court program in 2019. "Mr. Booker has spent many years in and out of the penitentiary prior to the program. His biggest vice has been his struggle with alcohol ... Although Mr. Booker had obstacles throughout his time in Drug Court, he never gave up, a true definition of resilience. After graduation, he plans to remain strong in his recovery and spread wisdom to others who may be struggling with their own addictions."

Patricia Donnell: Joined Mental Health Court in 2021. "Ms. Donnell is now addressing her problems rather than avoiding them through substance use and has been clean for 17 months. She is active in meetings, provides peer support and Narcan education and plans to complete her education to become a Recovery Coach."