Rutherford County, TN—A total of five participants in the Rutherford County Recovery Court program will graduate on May 25.

Judge Jimmy Turner, 16th Judicial District, will preside over the ceremony at the Rutherford County Judicial Center, 116 W. Lytle Street, Murfreesboro, TN at 5:00 p.m. Rutherford County Mayor Bill Ketron will also be present.

“This program has an uncanny way of changing lives for the better,” remarked Judge Turner. “Every aspect of a graduate’s life is improved: emotional, physical, mental and even financial. The funding that fuels this program is some of the best money spent in our criminal justice system.”

“I am incredibly proud of these individuals and their commitment to do better and be better,” said Mayor Ketron. “Participation in the Recovery Court program is voluntary. By taking this step, they are turning their lives around, and impacting their families, and even our community, in a very positive way.”

Though voluntary, those who apply to the program have to be approved by the District Attorney’s Office and the originating judge.

Director of Recovery Courts Trish Breeding says once approved, participants are put through a very strenuous program.  “Recovery Court is a minimum of eighteen months,” said Breeding. “Each participant has worked their way through five phases that include case management, group counseling, drug and alcohol counseling, and individual therapy. While in the program, they report to court for status dates monthly, at minimum, and are drug screened frequently. Participants must maintain gainful employment while in the program.”

The program offers classes including but not limited to: relapse prevention, moral reconation treatment, emotions class, peer support group, yoga, meditation, acudetox, seeking safety, dialectical behavioral therapy skills groups, and other therapeutic groups.

“For these individuals, graduation means they have demonstrated personal growth and sustained recovery,” said Breeding. “The hard work and efforts of the clients often means they have gotten better jobs, obtained their driver’s license, and experienced family reunification.”

For more information about Rutherford County’s Recovery Court Programs, please visit: http://rutherfordcountytn.gov/recovery-court/index.htm.