Several court officials gathered in the chamber of Circuit Judge David Williams Monday morning to witness the signatures of Albany Mayor Nicky Smith, seated left, and Clinton County Judge/Executive Lyle Huff, seated right, as they each proclaimed May to be Drug Court Month in Albany and Clinton County.

Pictured standing behind Smith and Huff, from left to right, are: Arlyn Mink (case specialist), Patty Rich (victim advocate), Amber Vanderpool (Commonwealth Detective), Angie Capps (public defender), Jesse Stockton (Commonwealth Attorney), Kristi Castillo (60th Distrit Judge/Drug Court Judge), Barry Cross (program supervisor), Deana Kimbler (employment specialist) and David Williams (40th District Circuit Judge).

The proclamations note that the Kentucky Drug Courts have played an important part in restoring lives, reuniting families and making communities across the nation safer, and have been a part of the Kentucky court system for 16 years.

In addition, drug courts are currently operating successfully in 115 Kentucky counties and has helped more than 5,600 Kentucky citizens turn their lives away from drugs.

Overall, in Kentucky, there is a 37 percent reduction in the percentage of drug court graduates who are charged with a new felony in the two years following graduation compared with non-drug court graduates.