From the Desk of Lawrence County Executive – TR Williams – Judge David Allen Honored for Recovery Court Work

Judge David Allen honored for Recovery Court work

When is a cookie more than a cookie?

Lawrence County’s Recovery Court meets the second and fourth Monday evening of each month; Maury County’s the second and fourth Tuesday. Participants face Judge David Allen with drug test results, their efforts to find or keep a job, improve their education, get counseling, and avoid bad influences since he last saw them.

Bad choices bring sanctions that can include jail time; good ones bring a cookie hand-delivered by the judge.

“I get off the bench and come down to shake hands with them, give them a cookie, and look them in the eye. I give them a word of encouragement and praise that only they can hear. When the person in the black robe acknowledges their success, it helps them understand they can succeed in the program. I can see it in their eyes.

“When they don’t get a cookie, it’s a big deal.” Sanctions, he explains, “are not designed to demean them as a person but to sanction their bad choices. They are calculated to change their conduct.”

The compassion behind the cookie – and the sanction – helped Judge Allen earn a “Judges Making a Difference” award at the 2021 Tennessee Association of Recovery Court Professionals (TARCP) conference.

He is quick to credit the Lawrence and Maury Recovery Court Teams, but 22^nd Judicial District Recovery Court Coordinator Tamara Robinson said, “It IS the judge. He is compassionate but stern. Actually, he is the fairest judge I’ve ever encountered.”

“The Making a Difference Award is for recovery court judges who are champions for recovery (TARCP emphasis added) and are making contributions to the recovery court system in Tennessee,” states the organization’s website. Two are recognized each year: one who works with misdemeanor offenders; another who works with felons.

This district’s Recovery Court participants have felony convictions from non-violent crimes related to drugs. They’re facing long sentences and are at high risk to offend again because of their addictions. “Addiction cravings can be ten times the need to eat,” Judge Allen explained.

They apply for a spot in the 18-24 month Recovery Court program, undergo assessments, and then interview with the Recovery Court team. It includes Robinson and Case Manager Sharon Medley, who work for the state-funded justice services division of South Central Human Resources Agency. Other members are representatives from treatment services, probation, law enforcement, District Attorney’s and Public Defender’s offices. Like the judge, they’re volunteering those evening hours.

“They tell us why they want to get into the Recovery Court,” Judge Allen said. “Most say they’re tired of their way of life.” “When they come in they are so broken and hopeless,” Robinson added. “Later they say ‘I should have stayed in jail. This is not what I wanted.’” Some do give up, or make so many bad choices that they’re returned to jail to complete their sentences.

“People who are not familiar with the Recovery Court model can’t appreciate how difficult the protocols and the accountability is for these people. It’s so strict, it’s easier to stay in jail,” he said.

The model is evidence-based, which means it’s proven to work. Participants must attend classes to help them understand addiction and move their mindsets away from criminality, get counseling, find employment, and live in sober environments.

Drug testing is unannounced and frequent, usually three times a week. “We even drug-tested on Thanksgiving morning,” the judge said. “Once they are off drugs and their brain begins to heal, they actually like the way it feels, and decide, ‘this is really what I want.’”

Local Recovery Court graduates described the experience in a short film featured at the TARCP conference. Ginger Wells, who now helps get others to drug treatment as an employee of the Lawrence County Substance Abuse Prevention Coalition, said, “You have to trust in the process and walk in integrity.” “It’s not about being sober, it’s about living a life of recovery, and that’s a totally different world,” another stated.

A total of sixteen have graduated from the Lawrence and Maury County Recovery Court programs. Current enrollment includes 11 from Lawrence County, two from Giles, one from Wayne, and 12 from Maury County. Participants from Giles and Wayne counties drive to court appearances in Lawrence County.

Program graduates have full-time jobs, custody of their children, and new relationships with other family members. They have regained their health, self-esteem, and the right to drive.

Aside from the tremendous benefits to those individuals and families, our district wins economically. “It takes about $100 a day to house an inmate,” Judge Allen said. “Recovery Court graduates are working, tax-paying, contributing members of society.”

“It is truly a privilege to serve as a Recovery Court judge. It is humbling, it is moving. It’s the most rewarding part of my job.” He says the experience has changed the way he deals with those who appear before him in his role as Circuit Court Judge.

“I see their humanity more clearly. As a judge it’s really easy to scold people, but they have no self-esteem to begin with and they feel about an inch tall. They know something bad is going to happen to them.

“They’re going to get the same sentence no matter how you treat them. Being kind to them, giving them some modicum of respect, doesn’t mean you are soft or weak.”

TR Williams