Evansville, Ind. — Participation in Warrick County Drug Court often is the last chance for people with alcohol- and drug-related offenses to avoid jail.

It was started in 2005 by Superior Court Judge Keith Meier. The three-phase project monitors offenders for a minimum of 18 months and a maximum of three years. Participants meet every other Thursday afternoon at the Judicial Center in Boonville, Ind. Typically, about 50 men and women are enrolled at any given time. Each is called to the front of the courtroom for a conversation with Meier as he reviews progress reports filed by caseworkers.

The judge is strict. During a recent session, a young man did not respond to the court's telephone page within the mandated time of an hour. A deputy was called to take him to jail.

As part of the program, offenders must attend Alcoholics Anonymous or Narcotics Anonymous sessions. They also are subject to regular alcohol and drug screenings.

Janet Meredith, 32, was caught with a quarter-gram of methamphetamine within 1,000 feet of a school. The longtime user faced 20 years in jail unless she enrolled in a drug treatment program.

Meredith was so hooked on the drug that she sometimes went six days without eating. She has custody of two boys, ages 7 and 8, whose father is no longer in Meredith's life. She thought she was being a good mother "because I never used meth in front of the boys. I'd leave them in front of the TV and go in the bedroom with friends."

Jose Ayala-Bravo has three DUI convictions. Not even the overdose death of his brother, Francisco, could make him stop abusing drugs and alcohol.

He said he got drunk for the first time when he was 6. He smoked marijuana and drank beer in middle school. In high school, it wasn't unusual for him to finish a 12-pack in a single day. He dropped out of Castle High School during his junior year.

Ayala-Bravo, who often mixed the anti-anxiety drug Xanax with up to a fifth of whiskey, faced three years in prison before entering the drug court in June 2009.

Ayala-Bravo is the manager of the Los Bravos restaurant in Boonville. His father, Hilario, also owns Mexican eateries in Evansville, Jasper and Loogootee, Ind. The 26-year-old Newburgh man greets customers, checks on orders and takes an occasional turn in the kitchen. He also pays some of the bills.

"Dad trusts me now. He pretty much couldn't before," Ayala-Bravo said.

He forged his father's signature on checks. He found the key to his father's safe and helped himself to the cash. He maxed out a Visa card provided by his dad.

"I was terrified of getting treatment. I was kinda sure I could quit drugging, but I felt I had to have my liquor. I had suicidal feelings when I thought about never taking another drink."

Ayala-Bravo said he drove 80 mph on Interstate 164 and considered driving the car into a guardrail.

"I figured I'd be in a coma for seven months and the judge would forgive me and I could get back to my previous life. I wasn't responsible. I always wanted the easy way out," he said.

No more, he insists.

"Over the July Fourth holiday, the family had a party in Jasper. There was plenty of beer around. I used to always pay attention to that, but this time I walked right past the stuff like it wasn't even there."

He says he's never tested positive for drugs or alcohol since joining the program.

"I've done everything they told me, and I feel better about myself. When I was drinking, I thought I had it together. I'd buy all the rounds, and the people around me would be like, 'Wow.' But the truth was that I was living with my parents and couldn't afford to buy toothpaste and soap. The money came from stealing, mostly from my dad. I remember getting asked what I'd do if my father got mad enough to cut me off. I would answer that I'd be in prison because I would have swiped something to keep the liquor and drugs coming."

Ayala-Bravo sports an ankle bracelet that can detect the smell of booze.

"I might not have to wear it by September. The court knows how good I've been doing," he said.

He's shared his story several times with audiences of youth groups. A common topic is the death of his brother, Francisco.

"I tell them about watching his fingernails turn yellow and his lips go purple. I went out later that night and did cocaine. The kids can tell from that just how out of control I was.

"The big reason I didn't go through with the suicide was that I pictured my mother mourning her second son to kill himself with bad habits. I had a good cry while driving home, and those thoughts never came up again."

Tammy Postin, plant manager of Prime Foods Inc. in Boonville, watches as hundreds of eggs tumble into the sorting area. She pays special attention to a brown-haired woman in the middle of the room.

"Janet (Meredith) is doing just great," Postin said. "She never misses any time unless she has drug court. If I can get her confidence up, she might make an inspector."

Meredith has been on the part-time payroll at the Warrick County business since May. She comes in about 11:30 a.m. and stays until about 5 p.m. She earns $7.25 an hour.

"During the interview, I liked the fact that she was quiet," Postin said. "If you're a chatterbox, you don't have the focus the job requires. I need these employees to look at the eggs, not each other."

Prime Foods prepares 450,000 ready-to-eat eggs every day for restaurant and retail customers in 40 states. The plant faces rigid scrutiny from the state and federal government to make sure there are no contaminants in the building. Workers wear gloves, boots and white lab coats when handling the eggs.

"Of our 64 employees, maybe four or five come from drug court," Postin said. "It's definitely not a haven for people with drug or alcohol problems. I probably only hire about 10 percent of those who apply. You really have to impress me."

Meredith's last job was at a fast-food restaurant. It ended three years ago.

"I had been trying and trying to find work, so having employment feels really good," Meredith said during a break. "I don't see my meth friends anymore. There's no temptation to take drugs. Once upon a time, normal for me was using. Now that normal is being clean."