ANDERSON — From his seat on the bench, Judge David Hopper saw the best and the worst of humanity.
Nowhere was that more clear than in Drug Court, where Hopper saw some drug-dependent criminals perish while others found new life. Hopper oversaw the court from its inception in 2000 until his death on Tuesday night.
“A drug court judge sees people at their best and at their worst,” Hopper said in a 2002 interview. “It’s some of the most challenging work I do, but it has also been some of the most rewarding.”
A cooperative effort between Madison County Unified Courts and the Anderson Center for Mental Health, Drug Court was founded with a $378,000 grant from the United States Department of Justice. It targets drug-related offenders, subjecting them to twice weekly drug screening, giving them a personalized recovery plan and giving them education or work experience.
“This program works,” said Van Hudson, the first Drug Court administrator. “It brings people under more intense supervision. It helps them with problem-solving. This program breaks the cycle.”
When Drug Court started, Madison County was one of just 21 counties to offer such a program, and one of just 1,600 around the country. In its first five years, 111 of the 370 people who entered Drug Court graduated, while 25 percent were re-arrested, leaving many to question its value to taxpayers.
“It is the best resource and hope a lot of us have; those who are losing their children every day to drugs and alcohol and who stand by helplessly because there is nothing they can do,” Sandra King of Anderson said of Drug Court in a letter to The Herald Bulletin. “I praise God for those such as Judge Hopper and Kathy and Van, who I have had the pleasure of meeting. They are wonderful, caring people.”
Hopper dedicated six hours per week on top of his regular workload to hear drug court cases.
“There have been a lot of rewards in the people that are successful in the program; not everybody is, because it’s tough,” Hopper said in 2003. “But those that are successful graduate with the tools to stay clean and sober. And it’s not your typical judge-defendant relationship, you get to know the people. It’s rewarding when they are successful, and it’s real disappointing when they are not.”
Contact Justin Schneider: (765) 640-4809, justin. schneider@heraldbulletin.com.
Local News
Related Photos
-
John P. Cleary
Discussion
Drug Court part of Hopper’s legacy
- Local News
-
-
Super Bowl host city hopes its experience is a game winner
Indianapolis has won rave reviews from a tough crowd of out-of-town fans and media skeptics smitten by both the city’s hospitality and its compact size. But is a chorus of accolades enough to land another Super Bowl?
-
'Teen Mom' Amber Portwood pleads guilty
A Madison County circuit court judge accepted a plea agreement Monday that would allow drug-related charges to be dropped against MTV “Teen Mom” Amber Portwood.
-
Report: Hoosier Park leaves economic mark on county
Tourism has become big business in Madison County and Hoosier Park Racing & Casino is the star attraction, concludes a recent report from the Anderson/Madison County Visitors & Convention Bureau.
-
South Madison introduces 12 candidates for school board
Twelve candidates showed up to introduce themselves and discuss why they wanted to be on the South Madison Community School Corp. board Monday night at the Administration Office, 203 S. Heritage Way.
-
Police: Woman victim of strong-arm robbery
Police were searching for a man accused of confronting a woman and forcefully stealing her purse Monday night.
-
Arrest log: Feb. 7
Arrests made by Madison County law enforcement on Saturday, Sunday and Monday, based on Madison County Jail records.
-
What's Where: Feb. 7
Local meetings and events are planned Tuesday.
-
Warm today, but winter returning
The start of the week will again be warmer than average and dry. Then winter returns to central Indiana by the weekend.
-
Poll question for Monday, Feb. 6
Vote daily in The Herald Bulletin poll. Today's poll question can be found at the bottom of the homepage on the right side.
-
Suits Filed: Feb. 6
Lawsuits filed in Madison County courts through Jan. 26, 2012
- More Local News Headlines
-
