Tatu stands with John Iverson, another client that went through the McLean County Drug Court. (Colleen Reynolds/WJBC)

By Joe Ragusa

BLOOMINGTON – The McLean County Drug Court is celebrating nine years of programs that offer treatment to drug offenders instead of prison.

“With our graduates, we have about 12 percent recidivism, which is amazing,” Director Jody Cooper said.

Cooper said the court keeps offenders out of prison and helps them address their addiction to recover their life.

Tatu is one of the programs success stories. He has been clean for 18 months.

“You have to forgive yourself,” he said. “That’s so key that you have to forgive yourself. Then you can move forward.”

Tatu was the keynote speaker at a fundraising lunch for the court earlier this week. He joked that he never thought he would say hello to judges and look police officers in the eye. Now, he said his goal is to be consistent and dedicated to the people around him, because he has to work twice as hard to stay clean.

The McLean County Drug Court is one of 65 across the state. The court handles roughly 50 cases at a time.

Joe Ragusa can be reached at [email protected].