From Marshall:
To the Therapeutic Court Association of Washington
I am writing to express my sincere gratitude for the Drug Court program and the life-changing impact it has had on me.
Before entering Pacific County Drug Court, I spent nearly 13 years in and out of jail and prison because of my addiction and the lifestyle that came with it. Drugs were a daily part of my life, and it was a habit that was extremely difficult to shake. I had become trapped in a cycle that I honestly did not know how to escape. Drug Court gave me more than sobriety — it retrained me to live as a productive and responsible member of society. It taught me structure, accountability, discipline, and how to believe in myself again. Most importantly, it taught me how to live a normal life again.
I fought hard for the opportunity to get my foot in the door and be accepted into the program. Before I was accepted, I made promises to the panel about the changes I intended to make in my life, and I took great pride in keeping my word. Drug Court gave me the opportunity, but I also understood that it was my responsibility to fully commit myself to the process and the work required to change my life.
I am not proud of many of the mistakes I made in my past. At one point in my life, I was quite the nuisance to my community because of my addiction and criminal behavior. Today, I can say with certainty that this program works. I am living proof of that.
One of the most important things the program gave me was purpose. Instead of viewing my past as something shameful, I learned that my lived experience could actually help other people who are struggling with many of the same issues I once faced.
Before I graduated from Drug Court, I was fortunate enough to become employed at Coastal Community Action Program as a Housing Care Coordinator, and eventually worked my way up to Jail Reentry Coordinator for Pacific County. That alone is something I never imagined would have been possible during the years I struggled with addiction and incarceration.
I was also directly involved in the opening of one of Pacific County’s first male transitional housing programs. Being part of something that provides stability, structure, and hope to individuals reentering society has been incredibly meaningful to me because I understand firsthand how critical those opportunities are.
I truly feel this work is my calling. Lived experience matters. The people I work with know that I understand their struggles because I have lived them myself. That connection allows me to build trust, offer guidance, and show others that real change is possible. I am able to serve as proof that recovery and rebuilding a meaningful life can happen with the right support and accountability.
Recovery is still something I actively work on every day. I continue to attend recovery support groups, and I still work the 12 steps. No matter how much time passes, I understand that I will always be at risk for substance abuse, and that understanding keeps me vigilant, accountable, and committed to maintaining my recovery.
I have been to prison multiple times in my past, and because of that experience, I truly believe programs like Drug Court have the power to change lives on a much larger scale. If there were a way to integrate these kinds of programs more deeply into correctional facilities, I believe it could transform countless lives and communities for the better.
Drug Court did not simply help me stay out of jail — it helped give me a future, a career, and an opportunity to give back to my community in a meaningful way. I am deeply grateful for the program, the people who dedicate themselves to it, and the belief they had in me when I struggled to believe in myself.
Thank you for the work you continue to do for individuals and families across Washington State. Programs like this save lives and strengthen communities every day.
Sincerely,
Marshall D.
