News Talk 94.1/AM 1600 Where The Upper Cumberland Talks
The 13th Judicial District Recovery Court is continuing to grow in its efforts to rehabilitate felons struggling with addiction.
District Attorney General Bryant Dunaway said the program allows non-violent convicted felons whose crimes were primarily driven by their addiction to go to a recovery court that is presided over by the district’s criminal court judges. Dunaway said they are allowed to enter a rehab program through the court and can avoid their prison sentence if they pass the program.
“The philosophy of the recovery court program is to teach them how to do life right,” Dunaway said. “What do I mean by that? I mean they receive the appropriate treatment for their addiction, but in addition to that we require them to remain employed, to pay their legal obligations, to take care of their children, and to stay out of any further legal troubles.”
Dunaway said the recovery court program was recently awarded some $45,000 in settlement funds that came from the state’s lawsuits against opiate manufacturers. He said the money will be used to help treat opiate addicts and other participants in the recovery court program.
“We continue to grow the recovery court,” Dunaway said. “Our goal is to continue to grow it and – so that we can reach and serve more people.”
Dunaway said the biggest benefit of the program for the community is the impact the participant will be able to have on society if they are able to conquer their addiction.
“It keeps the taxpayer from having to house that person in prison,” Dunaway said. “And they are not in prison and they can take care of their children and have a job and be a taxpayer themselves. It’s just a benefit to the individual, as well as our state as whole, to divert people from prison if they are willing to participate in the program and complete it successfully.”
Dunaway said the minimum length of the program is two years, but the majority of participants are in it for longer.
“In the program, you know, there’s lots of things the participants are helped with on the front end,” Dunaway said. “Treatment, housing, and obtaining a job, so all of those things are services that are provided.”
Dunaway said the first recovery court program in the state was started by the late Judge Seth Norman in Davidson County. He said Norman was also played a key role in bringing the program to the Upper Cumberland.
Dunaway said they have also started the Veterans Treatment Court in the 13th district within past few years, which provides similar services to veterans struggling with legal trouble and addiction.
