For many people who find themselves in the court system, substance use disorders frequently are one of the challenges they face. That’s where North Carolina’s Recovery Courts come in. They are court-supervised treatment programs for individuals charged with non-violent offenses where substance use disorder is a significant factor. 

These courts use intensive structured treatment, supervision, and accountability instead of traditional incarceration. The goal is to reduce alcohol and drug dependencies among participants and reduce recidivism and the long-term impact of drug-related offenses on both communities and courts.

Reducing recidivism – former offenders returning to incarceration – has many benefits. It reduces the burden on the court system, it reduces the cost to taxpayers and perhaps most importantly, it means fewer victims. All reasons to invest in efforts to keep people from re-offending. 

“Recovery courts are a very successful intervention path that helps change lives,” said Brian Gates, director of programs for Community Supervision. “These problem-solving courts bring together a team of court and community professionals who manage cases very closely. They make a real difference.” 

Currently there are 38 adult treatment courts in North Carolina, with another 49 that specialize in family treatment, mental health, DWI, veteran and youth issues. Another ten courts are currently in the planning stages. 

Recently, 18 probation/parole officers, along with Director Gates, attended the Rise 26 Conference in Nashville, TN, to learn the latest strategies and tactics that lead to successful outcomes. Specialized sessions covered treatment court models, risk/need assessments, and mental health solutions across the justice system.

District 3 Chief Probation/Parole Officer Rodney Moore has worked with both mental health court and veterans’ treatment court in Pitt County. “Both courts do an excellent job with connecting local resources while collaborating with probation in a way that benefits long term success. It’s very clear North Carolina is setting the pace for probation supervision.”

Participants who successfully complete recovery court can potentially have their case dismissed. Failure to complete the program means their original charge is referred back to the traditional court system. There are currently more than 4,000 treatment courts in the United States. 

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