Washington Co. Recovery Court celebrates winter graduates

The Washington County Recovery Court saved Hannah Baines' and Carrie Roberts' lives. The two women graduated from the substance use recovery program Friday morning at the George Jaynes Justice Center in Jonesborough. They hugged ahead of the courtroom ceremony as friends, family and fellow participants congratulated them. The day marked 16 months of sobriety for Baines and about 17 months for Roberts. "The support that we have through this program is amazing," Baines said. "They give you the opportunities, they give you the structure, they give you everything that you can do. You just have to put one foot in front of the other and actually do it." The court system program is usually 13 to 19 months long depending on the individual, according to Coordinator Deborah France. Participants complete five different phases that usually include inpatient and outpatient treatment and other required benchmarks. It also mandates weekly court visits for most of those phases, although the courtroom atmosphere looks very different to most. Instead of sullen faces, Recovery Court Judge Johnathan Minga is often met with laughs and smiles. "It's amazing how the other participants support (each other) and say 'keep your head up,' 'this is fine,' 'we're here for you,'" France said. "It's very impressive how they do become a community. And the judge calls our court a family." Baines and Roberts met in jail and decided to take the road to recovery together. Both started in 2024. Before the program, Roberts said, she was homeless and ready to give up completely. Carrie Roberts receives her certificate of graduation from Judge Johnathan Minga. JOY MAZUR/SIX RIVERS MEDIA "Recovery court has just been my lifesaver," she said. "They took a chance on me when I didn't put the effort in myself." Now that they've finished the court together, the two are ready to work toward new goals like education and child custody. "It's a blessing to see the difference, the changes, the hope, the future," France said. "The tears, the relief, the joy." Brandi Henley, an alumna of the program and keynote speaker at the graduation, agreed that the program changed the trajectory of her life. "I was 43 when I signed in," she said. "I really thought that the choices I had made had led me to a life that I wasn't going to be able to change." Henley works in recovery herself now, and offered advice for the new graduates — while life doesn't become magical and easy after graduation, they have a support system going forward. "Before recovery court, I either tried to handle everything alone or avoided problems entirely. Both strategies had a very low success rate," she said during the ceremony. "I learned that asking for help isn't a weakness, it's maintenance." It was a sentiment Minga echoed. Judge Johnathan Minga, who presides over the Washington County Recovery Court, speaks at its winter graduation ceremony Friday, Feb. 13. JOY MAZUR/SIX RIVERS MEDIA "I want to blow that (quote) up and put it on our courthouse, frankly," he said, addressing Baines and Roberts. "Let us help you with maintenance, if nothing else. Even if it's to call and have Deborah fuss at you." "I'll be glad to!" France chimed in. The two women went into the weekend with their jail sentences forgiven and some of their fines and costs waived. But for Baines, the program's biggest lesson is that recovery and a normal life is possible, even after all they've been through. "I'm worth a better life," Roberts added.