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In Blountville, Tennessee, six individuals marked a significant milestone on Tuesday as they graduated from the Sullivan County Felony Recovery Court. This achievement comes after more than a year of dedication to treatment and participation in sober living programs.
Sullivan County Criminal Court Judge James Goodwin explained to News Channel 11 that the essence of the program lies in equipping convicted felons with the necessary skills and support to lead productive lives. “This program spans about a year and a half to two years,” he noted. “Participants undergo highly specialized treatment and transition into a sober-living environment. It’s a time when they can focus on personal healing and acquiring the tools needed for a productive future.”
Highlighting the ongoing nature of recovery, Judge Goodwin emphasized, “Recovery is a never-ending journey. Our graduates today have taken the first step through this program, which we hope sets them on a path toward a lifetime of recovery.”
“Recovery is a never-ending journey. We’ve got them on the first step. By graduating this program, it’s the first step to hopefully a lifetime.”
One of the six graduates, Justin Hill, told News Channel 11 that he is doing the work to break a generational cycle of addiction.
“I went to prison once, and had multiple chances and, you know, getting sober and, you know, complying with probation,” Hill said. “And I just never did. I was just so accustomed to that fast life. And then I realized, as I got older, and I realized I’m 39 years old and I wanted something for myself. And, so I learned that my mother was diagnosed with stage four liver disease, and I hadn’t seen my kids.”
Hill said the beginning of his time in the program was a difficult transition from what he was used to, but after accustoming himself and keeping a strong will, it paid off.
“Coming into the program was pretty bumpy at first because I still had a whole lot of control issues. I thought that I could just still do things my way, and I learned real fast, and it did not work that way. I just finally decided to comply with the program. And once I got about six months in, I realized that I’m doing it.”
“The main thing is, I wanted to see my mother here, and, you know, I know she’s here in spirit,” Hill said. “And I’ve kept my promise to her. And I’m proud of myself for that. And I know she’s smiling, and she’s happy.”
Judge Goodwin said he’s seen graduates regain full custody of their children, among other vital family milestones.
“Several have gotten their children back. Not just visitation, but full custody. Most everyone leaves here with a job. So I’ve had participants tell me, you know, ‘I’ve not had a meaningful conversation with my mom or my dad or my brother or my sister in years. And now that they see that I’m putting forth the effort and taking these steps to better myself, we have reunited those relationships.’”
The recovery court is funded under a grant contract with the State of Tennessee’s Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services, the county said.