Mary Ann Gunn is known in Northwest Arkansas as the hard-hitting drug court judge who leaves little room for slackers in her program.
Just before this year's drug court graduation in late October, 5NEWS sat down with Judge Gunn, to find out what drives her passion, behind this program.
Every day for 12 months, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. It's tough. It's intense, and it should be. It's her 10th year with the Washington County Drug Court Program, but Judge Mary Ann Gunn says she wasn't always so "gung-ho" about drug court. "I wanted nothing to do with it. Nothing to do with it. I just didn't have any sympathy for them; and then I met the first five people in drug court. Those first five! They changed it for me. Some of these folks were like, 'what is a tax return?' Oh my GOSH."
This year, 83 people walked in the 2009 Washington County Drug Court Graduation. Judge Gunn talks about how much each one varies. "Every person is so individual and every story is so different. Michael Pohl! This guy. I mean, he worked so hard to become clean and sober. He really has changed his life."
In the hallway before graduation, Pohl reflects on the program. "It's a great program. I'm driving a truck now."
Judge Gunn says although many come into her program as adults, "Most of the people in drug court start at age 12, 13, 14," people like Crystal Tharp: "THIS is Crystal Tharp. She's 100% through the program. You know she races ATV vehicles? And she wins!"
5NEWS catches up with Tharp as she's walking in to take her diploma. "I was selling weed and someone wore a wire on me, and i got caught and it was either 6 years in jail or go to drug court, so I went to drug court. I race quads. I have a 450 hybrid. It's a dirt-bike motor in a 4-wheeler. I won the whole season. it was hard. It was really hard, but it was definitely worth not going to jail. It was great; I'm a lot better person now than I used to be. I'm about to get married. Everything's great."
Judge Gunn welcomes many triumphs like Tharps, but says not everyone makes it through. When they get to the graduation event, many are picked out of line for one last random drug test. Some pass, and some do not. This year, 83 are left to walk up on stage, and receive their diploma. It's in this moment that Judge Gunn offers a final exhortation. "Don't walk through your life looking backwards turn around and know what you can give, from this time forward." And people like Andre Barklay are listening. "Two years clean now, and it's awesome. My job goes great. This program really works. It really does."
Looking back on the year, Judge Gunn says in her mind, popular slogans do not cut it, in the real battle to beat drug addiction. "'Just say no' to drugs, is just not adequate. I think the message is, 'look at the destruction.' I've seen them lose their children, their dreams, their youth, their wife or husband, their parents' trust."
And yet, Gunn says she's baffled by what seems to work to eventually help some people break out of their life-destructing habit. "What ultimately works for each individual, I do not know. It happens." But Barkasy knows. "Where would I be, if I didn't take this program? I'd be in prison, in the gutter somewhere." Instead, Barkasy now has other plans for his life. "I just proposed last night, matter of fact. I just proposed to my girlfriend. She's my fiance now. We're going to get married in Italy."
In the end, Gunn says that's a big part of a person's success: the love and support of those around them. "They loved you through your addiction and they love you now."
Just before this year's drug court graduation in late October, 5NEWS sat down with Judge Gunn, to find out what drives her passion, behind this program.
Every day for 12 months, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. It's tough. It's intense, and it should be. It's her 10th year with the Washington County Drug Court Program, but Judge Mary Ann Gunn says she wasn't always so "gung-ho" about drug court. "I wanted nothing to do with it. Nothing to do with it. I just didn't have any sympathy for them; and then I met the first five people in drug court. Those first five! They changed it for me. Some of these folks were like, 'what is a tax return?' Oh my GOSH."
This year, 83 people walked in the 2009 Washington County Drug Court Graduation. Judge Gunn talks about how much each one varies. "Every person is so individual and every story is so different. Michael Pohl! This guy. I mean, he worked so hard to become clean and sober. He really has changed his life."
In the hallway before graduation, Pohl reflects on the program. "It's a great program. I'm driving a truck now."
Judge Gunn says although many come into her program as adults, "Most of the people in drug court start at age 12, 13, 14," people like Crystal Tharp: "THIS is Crystal Tharp. She's 100% through the program. You know she races ATV vehicles? And she wins!"
5NEWS catches up with Tharp as she's walking in to take her diploma. "I was selling weed and someone wore a wire on me, and i got caught and it was either 6 years in jail or go to drug court, so I went to drug court. I race quads. I have a 450 hybrid. It's a dirt-bike motor in a 4-wheeler. I won the whole season. it was hard. It was really hard, but it was definitely worth not going to jail. It was great; I'm a lot better person now than I used to be. I'm about to get married. Everything's great."
Judge Gunn welcomes many triumphs like Tharps, but says not everyone makes it through. When they get to the graduation event, many are picked out of line for one last random drug test. Some pass, and some do not. This year, 83 are left to walk up on stage, and receive their diploma. It's in this moment that Judge Gunn offers a final exhortation. "Don't walk through your life looking backwards turn around and know what you can give, from this time forward." And people like Andre Barklay are listening. "Two years clean now, and it's awesome. My job goes great. This program really works. It really does."
Looking back on the year, Judge Gunn says in her mind, popular slogans do not cut it, in the real battle to beat drug addiction. "'Just say no' to drugs, is just not adequate. I think the message is, 'look at the destruction.' I've seen them lose their children, their dreams, their youth, their wife or husband, their parents' trust."
And yet, Gunn says she's baffled by what seems to work to eventually help some people break out of their life-destructing habit. "What ultimately works for each individual, I do not know. It happens." But Barkasy knows. "Where would I be, if I didn't take this program? I'd be in prison, in the gutter somewhere." Instead, Barkasy now has other plans for his life. "I just proposed last night, matter of fact. I just proposed to my girlfriend. She's my fiance now. We're going to get married in Italy."
In the end, Gunn says that's a big part of a person's success: the love and support of those around them. "They loved you through your addiction and they love you now."
