Jan 3, 2026 By Garrett Neese 6 min read

Timothy Ringer was at a crossroads.

The Waynesburg resident had spent 19 years of his life incarcerated. In 2024, he was facing prosecution after a new charge of attempting to evade arrest.

“My cousin was killed a few years ago, and it sent me back down the spiral,” the 39-year-old said. “Seeing my family hurt, I didn’t want them to see that again from me, because we were walking down the same path. So I decided a change was necessary.”

Ringer, like a growing number of people, opted to pursue drug court. He was accepted into Greene County’s program, successfully graduating earlier this month in front of a courtroom of family, friends, court staff and fellow program members.

The Administrative Office of Pennsylvania Courts first launched the drug court program in 1997. Instead of a jail sentence, some defendants are selected to go through a treatment court process which can include counseling, addiction treatment, educational assistance and health care support.

Adult drug courts are the most common form of problem-solving courts in the state, found in 38 counties, including Fayette, Greene and Washington. Other problem-solving courts are devoted to groups such as veterans or issues like mental health.

Washington County launched its drug court in 2007, and last summer had 40 participants.

“Rather than just the straight punishment, we’re trying to get to the root of the problem. And but for this issue, this addiction, this mental health diagnosis, or this co-occurring issue, this person wouldn’t need a criminal justice system at all, or they won’t come back,” said Washington County Judge John DiSalle, who presides over the county’s problem-solving courts.

Fayette County launched its adult drug court in 2017. It typically has between 30 and 50 active participants, said Bob Lubic, assistant manager of the specialty court in Fayette County.

People get referred to the program in a number of ways. Inmates at the county jail can apply with help from counselors. There is also a referral list from district judges.

Often, someone from the drug court will come to a preliminary hearing and work with county prosecutors to make drug court part of a defendant’s plea. The goal is always to identify potential candidates earlier in the process so they can be properly evaluated, Lubic said.

Greene County’s program was launched through funding from the federal ​​Bureau of Justice Assistance in 2019, though COVID delays kept it from admitting its first participants until 2021.

The program addresses a critical need for the county, said Danielle Deery, the county’s drug court coordinator.

“Because Greene County is so small, our overdose numbers were actually higher than Philadelphia based on the overdose death rates (compared) to the population,” she said.

The program has five phases. Each lasts at least 90 days, though it’s tailored to the client, Deery said.

They start off with randomized drug testing at least three times a week, tapering off to two times a week in the later stages. They also have to attend regular meetings, perform 150 hours of community service and make consistent payments on court costs.

For each new phase, participants submit an application where they reflect on their goals, where they succeeded or fell short, and what new goals they are pursuing.

Similar requirements are in place in Washington County. People who don’t take the program seriously could receive sanctions ranging from admonishment to having their treatment court status revoked.

There are also incentives — praise from the judge, gift cards, or even early completion. Depending on how they respond to the program, people can take the full 23 months to finish or as few as 15, DiSalle said.

Fayette County has a color-coded system. Everyone starts at red — more frequent testing, more check-ins. From there, they can progress to yellow and green, or when necessary, drop back down.

The treatment court team works with the adult probation office to ensure participants have the treatment they need, Lubic said, and there are monthly status updates in front of a judge.

“Experience has shown … when the judge says you’re doing a good job, or when the judge challenges you, it has more effect than other people doing it,” he said.

Ringer said the Greene County program offered him a variety of support systems, helping him stay clean and also aiding with housing, employment and mental health.

“Every aspect they have covered, which is a big help in the structure of the program,” he said.

Over the years, the Greene County program has adjusted as needs became apparent, Deery said. Through a grant, the county added medically assisted treatment at the jail, which supplements clients’ counseling with medication to help them treat their addiction. The county has also developed a relationship with Center for Excellence, which offers one-on-one peer recovery support.

Participants gain more latitude as time goes on — from inpatient, to halfway house, to a three-quarters house.

That flexibility let Ringer be part of the recovery community in Westmoreland County, where he has a sponsor and a home group.

“It would have been difficult (to stay on track) in this town,” he said. “I think that’s the key to the program, to keep people out of where they would definitely relapse.”

Washington County’s program has seen between 60% to 70% of participants finish the program and never reenter the criminal justice system, DiSalle said.

“One thing I find particularly rewarding is when they’ll stop in to my office and say, ‘I just want to say hello, I was paying on my fines and cost today, and I wanted to tell you, I’m still doing good,'” he said. “My one guy will leave me a message every year: ‘It’s been eight years clean. I have a job, a house, I got married, and I appreciate everything you did for me.'”

For Lubic, the most rewarding part is when someone is able to decide to turn their life around after people in their life had been ready to give up on them.

“They’re taking responsibility, the realization they can’t just blame others or situations at the end of the day, they have to take ownership themselves,” he said. “And that’s when we see the progress.”

Being able to graduate made Ringer happy — not just for himself, but for the happiness he saw on the faces of his family and his sponsor.

“That meant the world to me, because I put them through a lot, and to see them happy at a bad time in life, with my family dealing with my cousin’s death,” he said. “It brought them some joy.”