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<p>WILKES-BARRE &#8212; Dozens of offenders gathered in the Luzerne County Courthouse this week, but they were not in trouble.</p><p>Instead, they were formally transitioning back into society.</p><p>Under the dome of the courthouse, Luzerne County and Geo Reentry Services honored 53 graduates of the Luzerne County Reentry Service Center, a program designed to help minimal offenders get back on their feet and decrease their chances of winding up back in prison.</p><p>The graduation ceremony was the 12th in the program&#8217;s history, according to program manager Stacey Velez.</p><p>The graduates, along with family members supporting them, looked on as two Luzerne County judges &#8212; President Judge Richard M. Hughes III and Judge Joseph F. Sklarosky Jr. &#8212; praised their hard work to get out of the criminal justice system.</p><p>&#8220;I know I speak for all of the judges when I say this is one of my favorite events,&#8221; Hughes said.</p><p>Completion of the reentry program requires commitment from the members, and Hughes called the completion a &#8220;tremendous success.&#8221;</p><p>Sklarosky echoed those comments.</p><p>&#8220;Each of you took advantage of an opportunity,&#8221; Sklarosky said. &#8220;An opportunity for offenders to redefine their lives.&#8221;</p><p>In addition to comments from the judges, alumni of the program also congratulated the new graduates.</p><p>Julie Morales was one of those alumni, and she said she has totally turned her life around.</p><p>&#8220;(The program) guided me in such a way that I&#8217;ve never been guided before,&#8221; she said.</p><p>Morales, who told graduates she now works with drug addicts to aid them in their recovery, said the guidance has allowed her to take control of her life and stay out of trouble with the law.</p><p>&#8220;I actually love my life,&#8221; she said.</p><p>The graduates were given equivalents of a diploma. When one received his, he triumphantly raised his hands in a V-for-victory sign, and in his best Richard Nixon impression, proclaimed: &#8220;I am not a crook!&#8221;</p><p>In the eyes of the law, he&#8217;s a changed man.</p><style>
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<div class="neCaption">Luzerne County Judge Joseph F. Sklarosky Jr. is shown applauding the 53 graduates of the Luzerne County Reentry Service Center during his speech this week as President Judge Richard M. Hughes III, in background, also applauds. A ceremony was held this week to honor minimal offenders transitioning back into society. </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo0>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/web1_transition1_faa.jpg</photo0><caption0>Luzerne County Judge Joseph F. Sklarosky Jr. is shown applauding the 53 graduates of the Luzerne County Reentry Service Center during his speech this week as President Judge Richard M. Hughes III, in background, also applauds. A ceremony was held this week to honor minimal offenders transitioning back into society. </caption0><photoCredit0>Fred Adams | For Times Leader </photoCredit0></div><div class="neFile"><img class="neImage" src="https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/web1_transition2_faa.jpg">
<div class="neCaption">GEO Reentry Services lead therapist Matt Shoener addresses Luzerne County Reentry Service Center graduates and their family and friends in the rotunda of the Luzerne County Courthouse this week. </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo1>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/web1_transition2_faa.jpg</photo1><caption1>GEO Reentry Services lead therapist Matt Shoener addresses Luzerne County Reentry Service Center graduates and their family and friends in the rotunda of the Luzerne County Courthouse this week. </caption1><photoCredit1>Fred Adams | For Times Leader </photoCredit1></div><div class="neFile"><img class="neImage" src="https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/web1_transition3_faa.jpg">
<div class="neCaption">Christina Oprishko, GEO Reentry Services treatment coordinator, made the opening remarks at a ceremony this week at the Luzerne County Courthouse to honor 53 graduates of the Luzerne County Reentry Service Center as they transition back into society. </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo2>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/web1_transition3_faa.jpg</photo2><caption2>Christina Oprishko, GEO Reentry Services treatment coordinator, made the opening remarks at a ceremony this week at the Luzerne County Courthouse to honor 53 graduates of the Luzerne County Reentry Service Center as they transition back into society. </caption2><photoCredit2>Fred Adams | For Times Leader </photoCredit2></div><div class="neFile"><img class="neImage" src="https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/web1_transition4_faa.jpg">
<div class="neCaption">A GEO Reentry Services manager hugs a Luzerne County Reentry Service graduate as he came up to receive his certificate this week for completing the program for minimal offenders in the rotunda of the Luzerne County Courthouse. </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo3>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/web1_transition4_faa.jpg</photo3><caption3>A GEO Reentry Services manager hugs a Luzerne County Reentry Service graduate as he came up to receive his certificate this week for completing the program for minimal offenders in the rotunda of the Luzerne County Courthouse. </caption3><photoCredit3>Fred Adams | For Times Leader </photoCredit3></div></div>
<div class="metaInfo"><bylineMeta><p>By Patrick Kernan</p><p>pkernan@www.timesleader.com</p></bylineMeta></div><div class="metaInfo"><shirttailMeta><p>Reach Patrick Kernan at 570-991-6386 or on Twitter @PatKernan</p></shirttailMeta></div>

County celebrates graduates of reentry program