Ryan S. Boyce, Director of the North Carolina Administrative Office of the Courts, recently made a visit to the Recovery Court presided over by Judge Beth Heath in Lenoir County. Recovery Courts aim to assist individuals with court-ordered treatment plans related to chemical dependence.

Heath said, “I'm excited about this administration’s support of Recovery Court. The state funded this program up until 2011 and it was defunded.”

There is a statewide effort to reinstate funding for Recovery Courts. Boyce, having collaborated with Judge Heath for several years, described it as his first opportunity to visit the court in person.

Recognizing funding as a legislative challenge, both Boyce and Heath expressed the hope for increased financial support. With the help of county commissioners, and the county manager, Heath was able to obtain grants that allowed her to operate a recovery court locally.

Boyce spoke of strong leadership in Lenoir and Wayne counties.

“Local support is vital to the success of these courts,” said Boyce. “You have very strong legislators here with Senator Perry, State Representative Chris Humphrey, and in Wayne County, Representative John Bell. All have been instrumental in bringing money to this area.”

Boyce stressed the importance of showcasing the programs' effectiveness through data on recidivism rates and potential cost savings, stating, “Look at what Judge Heath has done here. When it’s done right, [recovery court] absolutely works. We're not putting them back in jail over and over again,” underscoring the long-term benefits of successful recovery.

Before observing the recovery court proceedings, Boyce attended a staffing meeting where a group of 12 advocated for participants in the recovery court.

He said, "Every single person in the staff meeting was all in on each person’s recovery."

The visit provided insights into the collaborative efforts and community support that form the foundation of these recovery courts, reinforcing the potential for their expansion across the state.

“Recovery Court is just one small piece of the statewide court system,” said Heath. “It’s nice that this administration is supportive of recovery courts and I think committed to trying to make them available for anybody who wants them.”