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WILKES-BARRE — Conceding her weakness is speaking in front of a crowd, Kimberly Mulaski told a large gathering inside the Luzerne County Courthouse Rotunda on Tuesday about her life struggles to overcome addiction.
Mulaski briefly wept, causing others in the crowd to weep, as she thanked those with the county’s Division of Correctional Services Day Reporting program and GEO Reentry Services for helping to turn her life around.
Mulaski was one of 42 people who graduated from the six-month program.
GEO Reentry coordinates the day-reporting center, which opened five years ago, that reforms those who have gone through the criminal justice system and cuts cost by reducing the number of inmates being lodged at the county prison.
Non-violent offenders selected are placed on home confinement and must report to the center for drug and alcohol testing and participate in mandatory treatment plans.
Typically, it costs $97 a day to house an inmate at the county prison. The day-reporting center reduces that amount to $38.
Mulaski, 45, was a home health care nurse charged with stealing jewelry from a patient’s Bear Creek Township residence in May 2013. She was sentenced in March to three years in the county’s Intermediate Punishment Program and accepted to the day-reporting center.
“The day-reporting center completely changed my life,” Mulaski said. “They have given me the right tools to be a better person.”
Mulaski estimated she spent $162,000 during her 18 years of using drugs.
Valerie Weston, 31, said staff at the day-reporting center didn’t give up on her despite failing out several times.
“I thought I was going to fool everyone and slide through,” Weston said.
Charged with stealing items from Walmart in Hazle Township, Weston said she lost her house and temporarily lost custody of her child.
After she violated probation, Weston said she changed her attitude and began following the program requirements.
“It was not easy; I struggled every day,” Weston said. “I started gaining confidence and self-respect. Slowly, I started making the right decisions.”
Keynote speaker was county President Judge Richard Hughes who told the graduates to remember what they accomplished.
“This is a day for you and your family to be proud,” Hughes said. “Each of you have proven the ability to succeed. Embrace this day. Utilize your new found skills to help those less fortunate.”