03/10/2026
Airway Heights Community Court workers are celebrating another success story – the sixteenth graduate in four years.
“We give them the tools to help set them up for success,” said Terry Hanson, Community Court Coordinator. “We are always here. Sometimes we give them a little nudge, but ultimately, they are the ones who do the work."
Friends, family, and court workers celebrated Victor Rondthaler’s graduation. He wrote his name on a leaf and hung it next to the other graduates on what you might describe as a tree of life inside the court offices. Terry knows how much the 12-month program meant to Victor and the other graduates.
“He brought most of us to tears one day,” Terry remembered. “He thanked us for what this program has done in his life, how much it has changed him for the better. I am so proud of him.”
Airway Heights Community Court functions as a diversion program and offers an alternative to typical prosecution for those facing low-level misdemeanors. In addition, it provides participants with access to community resources such as treatment programs, health insurance, housing assistance, basic needs, and job search. In return, participants like Victor cut a deal with the court system: follow all the rules, and within a year, the misdemeanor will be reduced or dismissed.
Airway Heights launched the program in 2022. Advocates believe it creates generational change. Victor now hopes to work for family members in Oregon as a groundskeeper. Terry is grateful for the chance to help him create a better future.
“It's not just getting a case dismissed for completing it. It's the feeling of accomplishment they get, the camaraderie when they meet other people who've been in the same shoes,” Terry said. “They can see the success of others before them, and they can pass on their experiences to someone just coming into the program."
Congratulations, Victor! We can’t wait to see what’s next for you.
