As more than 50 men and women made their way across the stage on Thursday evening to celebrate their graduation from Lackawanna County Treatment Court, Judge Michael J. Barrasse took time for comment on each one.
Barrasse said the court’s team had had doubts about some of the graduates’ ability to complete the program. Some other students resisted at first but then became passionate about recovery. There were even one or two who had walked across the stage more than once.
But, regardless of how each began their process to recovery, each one was graduating — walking across the stage amid applause and handshakes.
Each graduate had their name printed on a paper attached to a seat at the Peoples Security Bank Theater at Lackawanna College. No one else could sit in their seat. They earned it.
It was something graduate Jodie Gagnon told the audience she had never imagined and something that she couldn’t have done without the support of treatment court.
Graduates listen to members of their cohort share their journey to sobriety during the Lackawanna County Treatment Court graduation ceremony at Lackawanna College in Scranton on Thursday, Nov. 20, 2025. (REBECCA PARTICKA/STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER)
Graduate Megan Poremba walks across the stage holding her daughter Korrine, 2, during the Lackawanna County Treatment Court graduation ceremony at Lackawanna College in Scranton on Thursday, Nov. 20, 2025. Poremba says she’s very grateful to have participated in the program. (REBECCA PARTICKA/STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER)
Judge Michael Barrasse and his dog Henry greet graduates as they walk across the stage during the Lackawanna County Treatment Court graduation ceremony at Lackawanna College in Scranton on Thursday, Nov. 20, 2025. (REBECCA PARTICKA/STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER)
Judge Michael Barrasse and his dog Henry greet graduates as they walk across the stage during the Lackawanna County Treatment Court graduation ceremony at Lackawanna College in Scranton on Thursday, Nov. 20, 2025. (REBECCA PARTICKA/STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER)
Graduate Julia Reina hugs Certified Recovery Specialist Jennifer Coleman during the Lackawanna County Treatment Court graduation ceremony at Lackawanna College in Scranton on Thursday, Nov. 20, 2025. Reina says participating in the program introduced her to a lot of awesome people who’ve shown they care about her. Coleman says it “hits home” to see the difference she’s made in participants and to watch them grow. (REBECCA PARTICKA/STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER)
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Graduates listen to members of their cohort share their journey to sobriety during the Lackawanna County Treatment Court graduation ceremony at Lackawanna College in Scranton on Thursday, Nov. 20, 2025. (REBECCA PARTICKA/STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER)
Gagnon likened the court’s staff to guardrails in her life. She may have veered left or right and it certainly wasn’t easy, but treatment court staff were there to push her back onto the right path — not once, but as many times as needed.
Because they didn’t give up on her, Gagnon didn’t give up on herself.
And that, she said, came after she originally stood before Barrasse and told him she was a lost cause.
Gagnon is looking forward to her future with hope.
“I have a support group now to figure out life with,” she said. “We’ve survived this chapter and we’re preparing for the next.”
Graduate Dana Hammond also shared her life story.
After her parents’ divorce, she remembers waiting for her father to come for a visit, but he didn’t show up.
When her mother remarried, the family moved to another area where Hammond felt she didn’t fit in with most other students. But there were people that she did fit in with — those who were using drugs.
As long as she could get drugs for people, she had friends.
She stopped going to school and dropped out as a high school senior.
She got pregnant, she had a baby, she went to jail.
And when she got out of jail, she kept using drugs.
In fact, she kept using for 20 years.
And, at 41, she faced more drug charges.
But this time around, she was grateful. She saw those charges as an opportunity to get sober.
“Treatment court was a blessing,” she said. “It helped me more than anyone had ever helped me before.”
Her recovery provided her the opportunity to reunite with family and to build a productive life.
“My confidence has grown through the roof,” she said. “Accountability, honesty, humility.”
Satisfaction in helping
Barrasse said the evening provided a sense of satisfaction regarding his efforts.
He said he sometimes envies artists and those who work in construction.
If you paint a wall, you can see the results, he said.
But judges do their best without immediately seeing the results of their efforts.
The treatment court graduation provides a bit of proof of the success of their efforts.
Barrasse encouraged the graduates to continue to use the tools provided by treatment court to continue to succeed and grow.
He reminded them they would always be a part of treatment court even after graduation and could reach out for help if needed.
“It’s like the Hotel California,” he said. “You can check out, but you can never leave.”