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Second Judicial District Recovery Court pitched to Martin County; local seed funding requested
Summary
Judge Regina Parker and Recovery Court Coordinator Kirsten Smith sought $10,000 from Martin County toward a district Recovery Court planned for January 2020, plus federal seed funding and $35,000 in local appropriations across five counties to support treatment-based supervision for opioid offenders.
Chief District Court Judge Regina Parker and a coalition of district partners presented a proposal on March 27 to establish a Recovery Court across the 2nd Judicial District, with implementation targeted for January 2020.
Judge Parker said the court is authorized by general statute but will not be funded through the Office of Administrative Courts, so localities must provide start‑up support. Recovery Court Coordinator Kirsten Smith told commissioners the coalition seeks federal seed funding of $124,295 and $35,000 in combined local appropriations; Martin County’s requested share is $10,000. She cited performance data for recovery courts generally, including completion rates near 60% and economic benefits she summarized as "for every $1 invested, there would be an economic benefit up to $27 per participant."
The program would require at least one year of participation with incentives and sanctions, plus six months of aftercare. It is designed to reduce recidivism and substance use through supervised treatment, and would serve eligible adults across the five‑county district.
Judge Parker and the coalition asked the county to consider the local appropriation as part of the FY2019‑20 budgeting process. No formal county appropriation was made at the meeting; commissioners asked staff to evaluate the request and include it in the upcoming budget deliberations.
