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Editorial
The Maury River Recovery Court, approved by the Virginia Supreme Court earlier this month, offers non-violent drug offenders facing criminal charges in our local courts a way to turn their lives around by breaking the cycle of drug dependency and becoming productive citizens.
The recovery court does not, we must emphasize, provide offenders with a “get out of jail free card” or a means to evade responsibility for past wrongs committed against others or society at large. Those who agree to participate in the alternative court proceedings and whose participation is accepted are to be held accountable for completing all of the steps deemed necessary to achieve a state of sobriety moving forward.
“It’s a very intensive program,” said Buena Vista Commonwealth’s Attorney Joshua Elrod, a member of an advisory group who spearheaded the recovery court’s creation. Participants, he explained, “must be highly motivated and have a sincere desire to achieve sobriety” in order to successfully complete the program.
Participants go through five phases of what is a nearly year-long program. Attendance at multiple treatment or recovery meetings each week is mandated by a plan determined to be appropriate for the individual. Drug screenings are conducted frequently to assure compliance with abstinence from drug use. Regular appearances before the court are required.
Rockbridge County, Buena Vista and Lexington are joining 51 other communities across the commonwealth that have adult drug recovery courts. The programs in operation elsewhere appear to be working and saving taxpayers money.
The recidivism rate has been found to be significantly lower for participants in comparison with those in a carefully matched group of drug offenders who went through traditional court proceedings. The number of adult drug court docket participants served in fiscal year 2023 saved local agencies and the state more than $4.8 million. According to a cost benefits analysis, average savings of $19,234 per individual participant were realized.
A 22-member advisory committee of members representing the courts, law enforcement, defense attorneys, the Rockbridge Area Community Services Board and other pertinent agencies has been meeting regularly this past year to lay the groundwork for the recovery court. We owe these individuals a debt of gratitude for their service to the community. Elrod points out that all of them have worked hard on this project.
“It was been a particularly strong partnership between [RACSB] and the court system,” he said. “The three localities have all been supportive, as have all three major law enforcement agencies [the Buena Vista and Lexington police departments and the Rockbridge County Sheriff’s Office]. Judge Christopher Russell, [Rockbridge County and Lexington Commonwealth’s Attorney] Jared Moon [and] Teresa Harris [of the local] public defender’s office have all supported this effort. Megan Roane of Blue Ridge Court Services has been instrumental in helping develop our court’s plan.”
A glance at the recent local arrests log or lists of criminal indictments issued by Rockbridge area courts shows just how pervasive is illegal drug use. Many, if not most, of the other criminal charges locally stem from behavior associated with drug addiction. The recovery court may be a way to stem the tide of this destructive behavior that tears apart families and destroy lives. It is our hope that the court restores a sense of normalcy for those who have been adversely affected by drug addiction.
We are optimistic about the positive impacts that the creation of this court could have on the future of our community.
Serving on the advisory committee, in addition to Elrod, are Derek Almarode, superintendent of the Rockbridge Regional Jail; Christopher Coleman, clerk of the Buena Vista Circuit Court; Abby H. Fedor, chief probation and parole officer for District 40; Steve Funkhouser, Rockbridge County sheriff; Angela M. Green, Lexington police chief; Jim Halasz, former Lexington city manager; Wayne F. Handley, Buena Vista police chief; M. Teresa Harris, deputy public defender; Greg Hornback, director of clinical services, RACSB; Greg Madsen, administrator for Carilion Rockbridge Community Hospital; Jared Moon, Rockbridge County and Lexington commonwealth’s attorney; Anna T. Powers, specialty docket coordinator; Lyndsey Reynolds, family services manager, RACSB; Megan S. Roane, director, Blue Ridge Court Services; Kim Shaw; executive director, RACSB; Suzanne Sheridan, CEO, Rockbridge Area Health Center; Andrew Squires, deputy commonwealth’s attorney, Rockbridge County and Lexington; Spencer H. Suter, Rockbridge County administrator; Christopher B. Russell, Rockbridge County, Lexington and Buena Vista circuit court judge; Michelle M. Trout, clerk for Rockbridge County and Lexington Circuit Court; and Jason Tyree, Buena Vista city manager.
