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The Fourth Judicial District Drug Court offers a chance for offenders to get sober without jail time.

Eight people recently graduated from the program during a ceremony held at Iowa Western Community College.

The drug court class graduates shared their stories of hardship, addiction and redemption during a ceremony attended by friends, family and court officials.

The program, overseen by Pottawattamie County probation officers, local law enforcement and attorneys, is a chance for individuals to get a legal clean slate — but it must be earned.

“Each one was in the program for 18 months or longer, so the ceremony is the culmination of sobriety, treatment, having a job, paying off fines and fees,” said Probation and Drug Court Supervisor Wayne Reed. “It’s a way of saying they are ready to go into the community and start a new life.”

The group of eight, charged with various drug or drug-related crimes, were looking at more than 100 years of incarceration combined, Reed said.

Their criminal histories varied. Some had been in jail multiple times. Others had gone to prison.

Each had to face their past and claim responsibility for what they had done, Reed said.