Richard Durbin

U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin attended the Will County Problem Solving Courts graduation on Thursday, congratulating 23 individuals on completing the program.

“Graduates, as you receive your certificate, I hope you see it as a symbol of your perseverance. By completing this program, you’ve sent a powerful message to yourself and your loved ones. You’ve overcome tough challenges to build a healthy, fulfilling life,” Durbin said.

The Will County Problem Solving Courts, launched in 2000 with the drug court program, aim to reduce recidivism by offering participants a structured treatment program, counseling, mandatory drug testing, judicial monitoring, immediate sanctions and incentives, and “overall support from the court team,” the Will County State’s Attorney’s website states.

Will County eventually expanded its Problem Solving Courts to include a mental health court, veterans court, and the Redeploy Illinois Program.

The courts have now supported more than 1,000 participants as they work to rebuild their lives, Durbin’s office said in a news release.

Will County’s Problem Solving Courts program “should serve as a model for other local governments—a stellar example of what can happen when we work within our communities to transform the lives of those in need,” Durbin, a Democrat, said.

In 2018, Durbin led the passage of the bipartisan First Step Act, which incentivized rehabilitation and expanded access to education, job training, and reentry programming for those in the criminal justice system.