Woman formerly addicted to drugs credits Suffolk County Treatment Court for turning her life around

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Lisa Callister says for the first time in her life, she truly loves herself. Callister spent years addicted to drugs. She says she destroyed every relationship, spent all of her money and other people's money, too. She describes her past self as a "menace to society." That all changed once she was arrested in connection with a jewelry store robbery. She became a participant in Suffolk County Treatment Court, regularly meeting with her case manager and a judge. Upon successful completion of the court, charges get reduced, but that is not the sole benefit of the program. Edward Gialella, project director, says that the problem-solving courts work on connecting people with services and housing. Participants are connected with a case manager "to help them to navigate life in order for them to get healthy, to get clean and sober." Lisa Callister credits the court with turning her life around. "