Somerset County Circuit Court holds its first Adult Recovery Court graduation

“We want to work toward rehabilitation to address the root of their problems.”

National Recovery Month is a national observance to be held every September to educate Americans that substance use treatment and mental health services can enable those with mental and substance use disorders live healthy and rewarding lives. September 2020 was the first month celebrating the gains made by those living in recovery. Throughout the month of September, courthouses across the country displayed the color purple in support of those on the path to recovery.

On September 10, the Somerset County Circuit Court Adult Recovery Court program held its first graduation for three participants. Presiding over the event was County Administrative Judge Daniel W. Powell, Circuit Court for Somerset County, along with Richard “Gray” Barton, Maryland Judiciary Program Director for Problem-Solving Courts. Family members were able to watch the graduation via Zoom. Notable about this moving ceremony was that it featured a young participant whose grandfather is a sheriff's deputy in the court system.

“We found a profound need for the program here in Somerset County to reach out to those individuals who are committing crimes because of their addictions,” said Judge Powell. “Offering the Recovery Court program in Somerset reaches a population that otherwise would only be punished, crowding already overfull jails. We want to work toward rehabilitation to address the root of their problems.”