‘Duluth Recovery Court’ Selected to Aid in Mentoring Courts

DULUTH, Minn.– When someone is arrested in connection with a case related to addiction jail time is often not a quick fix.

Duluth’s ‘Recovery Court’ program offers aid instead of just punishment.

Since 2002, the formerly named ‘Drug Court’ has helped out convicted felons with cases related to substance use.

The Treatment Court Institute selected the now ‘Duluth Recovery Court’ as one of ten mentor courts in the nation.

Being selected to help out different programs is a huge honor.

For this program, officials use feedback from participants to improve it even more.

“One of the things that individual said was ‘I think you should change your name to recovery court.’ Because that’s what it really is, and it would be a lot less shameful for participants to say ‘I’m in recovery court’ than to say, I’m in drug court, “said Judge Jill Eichenwald, It’s an opportunity for us to share over our 2 decades and for us to also help support other communities in being able to you know, have successful courts that find success,”

‘Recovery Court’ is a second chance at life through different remedies such as providing emergency housing and financial assistance.

It also helps treat addiction through mental health counseling.

Typically, the program itself lasts 15-24 months.