SPRINGFIELD – As the clock struck 3 p.m. at the Springfield Justice Center, community members squeezed in and flooded out of the already packed Emergency Operations Center.
Judge James Tierney initiated the city’s first graduation ceremony of the Springfield Municipal Adult Recovery and Treatment (SMART) Court.
The graduation ceremony follows a $900,000 grant awarded by the U.S. Department of Justice to operate an adult treatment court in February 2024. “It’s a major milestone,” said Mayor Sean VanGordon.
The court provides treatment and recovery services for those with substance-use disorders, as opposed to incarceration. On April 24, Doug Schley and Daniel Gates-Prociw were the first to complete the year-long community corrections program.
“To the graduates, you’ve shown commitment and courage to change your life,” said VanGordon. “You’ve earned this.”
SMART Court participants must meet strict requirements for a minimum of 12 months. Requirements include treatment completion, employment or education benchmarks, restitution, and a 40-hour “Give-Back” community service project.
The graduates’ statements were read before the crowd, describing the difficulties they had endured before entering the program the previous year. Both graduates had experienced severe substance abuse.
Schley struggled with substance abuse and criminality off and on for the majority of his life, according to his biography statement. He entered the program in March 2024 with an open DHS case, and his children were placed in foster care with his brother.
“I was there for my son, but I wasn’t present,” said Schley. He consistently showed up for all his treatment court obligations, and his children were returned to him in his care in June of 2024. “Today, I am proud to say that I’m a good dad,” he said.
His biography stated that he went from viewing DHS as a hindrance and an enemy to instead being helpful and supportive. He successfully shifted his focus from substances to being an attentive father, loving husband, and positive, social member of the community.
Schley stood behind a podium and read from a few crinkly papers torn out of a spiral notebook. “I came to this program at one of the hardest moments of my life. I can’t remember a time in my life when I didn’t feel more alone,” he read aloud.
“I did know one thing, though, that I was gonna do whatever it took to complete this program. But I didn’t know that this program was going to change my life and who I am today. This program has made me look at not only my addiction but every aspect of my life and who I am as a person. This hasn’t been an easy program. It forced me to look at things about myself that I didn’t want to look at, but it completely changed my life in ways that I never thought and I am so grateful. This program is one of the best things that could happen,” said Schley.
On the day of his graduation, Schley celebrated 447 days sober.
Prociw had his statement read, too, revealing that during his struggles with substance abuse, there was a point when he overdosed on fentanyl, spent nine days in a coma, and continued to abuse drugs after that.
Like Schley, Prociw also entered the recovery program in March of last year. “I remember when I walked in here,” recalled Prociw. “I’ll never forget that day, either, because I was pleading with the front desk lady about how mentally shattered I was and where my life was going,” he said.
He quickly turned his life around. He reported that he never wanted to use substances again or feel the way he felt while using. He was ready to do whatever it took to make this happen. He was fully engaged in the program and his individual sessions.
Prociw now works full-time at Sierra Pacific Industries and enjoys his job. Through treatment, he has regained a sense of purpose in his life again. He enjoys being sober (over 400 days) and having stability, genuine friendships, and a life that he is proud of, according to Prociw.
“Give it your all and you really devote yourself to sobriety and recovery,” he said. “It’s a lifestyle, so you have to change a lot of different things in your life, but it is possible.”
