It's no get out of jail card.
Drug Court's a tough one-year regimen where people often earn a lighter sentence getting clean.
Their non-violent felonies are then dismissed.
Action News spoke with a grad who says the program saved his life..
And is still benefiting yours.

He was sure it'd be a "cake walk"...
And after Yakima county drug court, he'd go back to his old ways.

"As I got into it and I got sober by then having their thumb on me i was able to do it for myself and I'm sober..." Vince Marquis tells us.

Sober for six years now... thanks to the intense program.
The Drug Court graduate says he was an alcoholic and drug user.
at times recovery felt like jail, but he's thankful he went through it.

"It keeps me off the road drinking and driving..." he says.

And now, he's giving back...

"They feel my heart..."

Working with substance abusers at the Delozier Recovery Center.
This is the room where he holds sessions.

"Cause a lot of times when we look in the mirror when we're addicted we don't like what we see..." Marquis tells us.

He's a star pupil for the drug court program.
The reason coordinator Marty Lentsch and judge Robert Hackett say it's a pleasure running it.
More than 160 people have graduated...
Most never re-offend.

(reporter) "That must make you very proud..."
"Well we're thrilled because it demonstrates drug court works," Lentsch says.

"I've seen many children returned to their parents because their parents made a decision to be sober..." the judge adds.

Marquis says everyone should know about drug court.
Because you're paying for it.
And your dollars are improving life around the valley.

This will be the third year Yakima county commissioners have recognized may as drug court month.
There will be a special proclamation made at their weekly meeting Tuesday.