A Second Chance: The Felony Drug Court Changing Lives in Fort Bend County
In a courtroom where honesty is the foundation and applause often follows a defendant's name, something remarkable is happening. The Fort Bend County Felony Drug Court—led by the compassionate and resolute Judge Mark Hanna—is reshaping the way we approach addiction, accountability, and justice.
This isn’t your traditional courtroom. Participants don’t just appear before a judge—they’re seen, heard, and treated like human beings with potential. In this courtroom, when a young man candidly shares that a photo of his brother’s killer triggered a relapse, the room doesn’t recoil. It rallies. “You got this,” comes the voice of a fellow participant. Judge Hanna nods, imposing a community service sanction—not as punishment, but as a steppingstone. Even the prosecutor, Susan Bourgeois, affirms him with compassion: “It wasn’t the positive test. It was the dishonesty.” The message is clear—own your story, and this court will help you write a better one.
What Is Felony Drug Court?
The Felony Drug Court is a specialized docket designed to provide non-violent, high need individuals with a structured alternative to incarceration. It is a collaborative, treatment-centered program that pairs judicial oversight with intensive addiction services.
Participants may be facing felony drug charges or have criminal behavior rooted in substance abuse. The court offers an opportunity: plead into the program, commit to recovery, and you may see reduced or dismissed charges. But more than that, you gain tools to rebuild your life.
How Does It Work?
The program spans 12 to 24 months and consists of five phases: orientation, accountability, needs-based treatment, life skills, and recovery maintenance. Along the way, participants undergo treatment, counseling, frequent drug testing, and court check-ins. Progress is acknowledged, and setbacks are treated with individualized responses—sanctions, when necessary, but always with treatment at the center.
A team of professionals sits at the heart of the process. Prosecutors, defense attorneys, probation officers, social workers, and treatment providers all work together—not to prosecute—but to heal.
Comfort Nyesuah, the courtroom’s dedicated social worker, is often referred to as a “game changer.” From finding housing to locating support services, she and the recovery coaches are essential lifelines. Probation Officer Ann Holder knows each client, while Lety from the Fort Bend County Community Supervision and Corrections Department ensures the program runs with care and structure. Sanctions aren’t cookie-cutter—they’re personal. Incentives like gift cards or even a simple lifesaver candy, given for a small success, can mean everything. As one participant put it, “I’d never had a lifesaver before.” Now, it’s a symbol of hope.
The Human Side of the Court
C.G., a mother and program participant since September, reflects on how the structure of drug court has reshaped her life: “Before this, it was chaotic, stagnant. Now I have routine, discipline, goals.” Her eight-year-old son now gets time and honesty from a mother in recovery, rather than one numbed by addiction.
Another participant had cycled through the justice system for years. She had never been given a chance to be