Tulsa County Drug, DUI Court Graduation This Week

More than 50 defendants who completed the Tulsa County Drug/DUI Court program are set to graduate on Friday.

The 52 defendants will take part in a ceremony in the OSU-Tulsa Auditorium. Ten defendants who successfully completed the county's veterans' treatment court program are also slated to graduate Friday.

Tulsa County has the largest drug court and veterans' treatment court in Oklahoma. Alternative courts in Tulsa County continue to grow and now serve more than 900 defendants.

First Assistant District Attorney Doug Drummond says prosecutors recognize the need for alternatives to incarceration where offenders can be held accountable and receive treatment while public safety is still being protected. The Tulsa County Family Drug Court started in 1998.

A study last year showed Tulsa County's family drug court is making a huge difference in getting people off drugs, and children out of foster care. Sixty-six percent of participants finish the program in Tulsa County - compared to 38 percent nationally.

3/12/2013 Related Story: Tulsa Family Drug Court Reuniting Families

The Associated Press contributed to this report.