Recovery Courts improve education, employment, housing and financial stability, reduce foster care placements, promote family reunification, and increase the rate of addicted mothers delivering …
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Recovery Courts improve education, employment, housing and financial stability, reduce foster care placements, promote family reunification, and increase the rate of addicted mothers delivering babies who are fully drug free. Tennessee operates only 50 adult recovery courts, and Marshall County is home to one of the newest State Certificated Recovery Court Programs. Under the leadership of presiding judge, Lee Bussart, the Recovery Court reduces correctional costs while ensuring public safety with strict clinical oversight.
The Marshall County Recovery Court is available to misdemeanor, non-violent offenders in Marshall County. Marshall County receives an annual $50,000 grant from the State of Tennessee to fund the Recovery Court Program.
Recovery Courts rely on community partnerships. Marshall County’s Recovery Program created a unique legal-medical partnership between Marshall County and Maury Regional Hospital. Thanks to the support of Marshall Medical Center and CEO Phyllis Brown, a Nurse Practitioner who specializes in mental health and substance abuse disorders volunteers her time, skill and expertise to participate on the Marshall County Recovery Court Team. The Recovery Court Team is a collaborative effort between the Marshall County Courts, Maury Regional Hospital, Marshall County Sheriff’s Department, Marshall County Probation Department, District Attorney’s Office, and Marshall County Public Defender. Without the dedication of all of these agencies, the Recovery Court would not be possible.
“Linda Bassham, recovery court coordinator, and our recovery court team keep our community safe while making our community stronger. Addiction doesn’t just happen to an individual addict: the collateral damage of addiction destroys families and endangers the whole community.” said Bussart.
The daily cost of incarcerating a person is $74.51. Over their lifetime, a person suffering from addiction will likely be incarcerated numerous times, costing thousands of dollars. On average, Recovery Courts save approximately $6,000 of taxpayer dollars per individual they serve.