Heath: Recovery courts are truly lifesaving
May is National Treatment Court Month!
On Friday, the 9th Judicial District Accountability and Recovery Court program, covering Greene, Lenoir and Wayne Counties, celebrated its courts and 12 new recovery court graduates with a breakfast and graduation program at the La Grange Community Center.
For three decades, there has been a growing movement to transform the way the justice system responds to individuals with substance use and mental health disorders. Rather than continuing the revolving door of addiction and related crime, recovery courts break the cycle by holding individuals accountable while connecting them with the treatment and recovery support needed to change their lives. Recovery courts have proven to be the most successful justice intervention in our nation’s history, helping not just individuals, but their families and communities find safety, hope, healing, and recovery.
Recovery courts differ from traditional courts because treatment providers, public health professionals, law enforcement and other community resource providers are all invited to be a part of the recovery court team. With these resources, each person in the recovery court program receives an individualized, evidence-based treatment plan, and works together with the judge, defense attorneys, prosecutors, probation, DSS and law enforcement to provide ongoing support and accountability. But also, to community partners, that assist with housing, employment, education and health care. The participants appear bi-weekly before the judge for 12-18 months, submit to random twice weekly drug screens and treatment.
Before family, friends and community members, several Accountability and Recovery Court graduates courageously shared their stories about their time in recovery court and their personal recoveries. Through tears and smiles, they expressed appreciation for the resources received from the Accountability and Recovery Court program. Successes amongst the graduates included employment, housing, restoration of driver’s licenses, resolution of criminal charges, improved physical health, reunification with children and families and over a year of sobriety.
Youth from Lenoir Youth Development Center, performed the song “Save Me”, which expresses the difficulty of addition.
The 9th Judicial District Accountability and Recovery Court program is under the direction of Chief District Court Judge Beth Heath. Judge Annette Turik also presides over some of the courts.
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