by Paul Andrews on 2015-01-14
David Ratcliffe had a tough start in life. He got involved with drugs at an early age, didn’t graduate from high school and was in and out of prison.
But with the help of the San Bernardino County Probation Department, the County Department of Behavioral Health and a local inpatient rehabilitation center, Ratcliffe turned his life around.
He has new priorities now, he has a steady income, and - most importantly - he is sober.
“I get to pay bills now. I get to be normal,” Ratcliffe said with a smile.
Ratcliffe, now 35, was released from prison as a PRCS in July 2012. Two months later he was assigned to Probation Officer II Vega.
Despite treatment opportunities, Ratcliffe still struggled with drug abuse. He identified heroin and Methamphetamine as his drugs of choice and continued to violate probation.
“Drugs are just so strong, y’know?” Ratcliffe said.
In December 2013, Vega referred David to Inpatient Services and he checked in to the Cedar House Life Change Center. He successfully completed a 90-day program and graduated on March 5, 2014.
“I just needed that little push, I guess. I just needed that push in the right direction. I was ready, I just didn’t know how (to change),” Ratcliffe said.
He had always thought of probation as a negative thing.
“But in reality, with a clear mind, it’s not even like that,” Ratcliffe said. “All probation wants is to see your success, and get you out of what you’re in.”
Ratcliffe also received additional services and was placed at The Sanctuary House Sober Living Home monitored by Cedar House. He participated in and completed a four-month outpatient program in July 2014.
During his time at Cedar House, Ratcliffe volunteered as a cook, which he continued to do after he finished the program.
Then one day Cedar House called him and told him he had good work ethic. They offered him a job and he was hired as a full-time cook in August 2014.
“I thought wow, that’s big,” POII Vega said. “For someone to be offered a job there shows he’s trustworthy and he did what he should be doing.”
While Probation staff provided guidance and pointed him in the right direction, it was up to Ratcliffe to do the work.
“You have to want it and you have to be sick of going through the same old stuff over and over again. Being in and out of jail, getting yourself in trouble – it’s useless,” he said. “It’s a struggle, it’s not easy. But once you overcome that, it’s the best feeling ever. It’s the best feeling ever.”
Officer Vega has called Ratcliffe a success story, but the probationer said there is still more work to be done.
“I think my success will be accomplished when I completely get off probation. And not because I caught another case, not because I graduated to parole. Nothing like that. But because I completed it like I was supposed to.”
“But I feel successful now,” he added. “I feel good about myself.”