Jamae was born on a farm in Waldron, AR. in 1980.  He enjoyed growing up in the country and learning how to live off the land.  Both of Jamae’s parents were functioning addicts.  At an early age he started experimenting with drugs.  He dropped out of school in the eighth grade.  He went to work helping his dad and step-mom on the farm.  This is when he started to get into trouble.  Jamae finally met his birth mother through the legal system when he was thirteen.  He moved to Fort Smith to live with her.  This was a big culture shock for him.  Not only did he move from the country to the city but his mom and step-dad lived completely different lifestyles then he was accustomed to.  The only thing they all had in common was drugs.  This is when Jamae first tried meth.  He was hooked the first time he used it.  Life went down hill fast after that.   In the winter of 2010 Jamae was introduced to Drug Court by his Public Defender.  He had the choice of entering Drug Court or going to jail.  Jamae chose Drug Court over going to prison for up to twenty years.  At first he had trouble following the rules of Drug Court.  He had three sanctions in the first few months he was in the program.  Jamae went to a treatment facility for a six month program.  He ended up staying for a year.  When he returned he was a different person.      

Jamae first attended GED class on August 25th, 2010.  He fiercely fought education then.  But the treatment facility turned him around.  Now he enjoys being a student.  Jamae states, “Today I have been clean and sober for eighteen months.  I just finished my GED work.  I have a great teacher.  He has taught me more than school work.  He has taught me how to believe in myself.”  Jamae continues, “I would like to thank everyone in the Drug Court program, the Judges, and my GED teacher.  They have taught me how to live a better life and how to enjoy it.  I thank God for putting these people in my life.  I will never forget what they have taught me.”