May 25, 2022
By: Dwayne Page
A courtroom is not a place where you expect to find scenes of celebration but on Wednesday afternoon family and friends of Dylan Goodman had plenty to celebrate on the occasion of his graduation from the DeKalb County Recovery Court program. The observance was held in the circuit courtroom of the courthouse hosted by members of the DeKalb Recovery Court team. It also happened to coincide with National Recovery Court Month.
Goodman was presented a plaque, certificate of graduation, and a $50 check by DeKalb County General Sessions and Juvenile Court Judge Bratten Cook, II.
“You (Goodman) are one of the few who have gone through the program in not much more than 12 months,” said Judge Cook. “Usually, it takes participants at least 18 months to two years and some even three years but in your case, you have completed all of the requirements and it is my privilege to present you with this certificate of graduation from the DeKalb County Recovery Court Program,” said Judge Cook.
DeKalb Recovery Court Coordinator Kate Arnold also praised Goodman for his commitment to clean and sober living.
“Dylan, we want to honor you because recovery court is about transformation of lives, and I think you are a perfect example of that. You have completed treatment and this intensive program. You have completed the close supervision and accountability,” said Arnold.
Goodman thanked the Recovery Court Team for helping him along his journey.
“I had an alcohol and drug problem and a me problem for about six years of my life. I didn’t know what to do with myself and I ended up getting in more trouble than I could dig my way out of but one day my lawyer’s office called me and said you have court today. I showed up for court and he (judge) said you could go to jail or recovery court. I didn’t want to go to jail but once I started it (recovery court) it became not about going to jail but me being my old self again because I had forgotten who that was so I am really glad for all of you (recovery court team) helping me,” said Goodman.
Goodman’s Recovery Court Case Manager Rhonda Tiefenauer said Dylan entered the program in April, 2021 and got serious about his commitment to it right away. “Immediately he obtained a full time job and he paid off his court costs and while doing that Dylan also did Intensive Outpatient Classes so he would work all day and come home at night and be on the computer taking the IOP classes for three hours and then get up the next day and do that again while following his 12 step program, making meetings, drug screenings, individual counseling, and performing hours of community service. He is also talking now about becoming a certified peer recovery specialist to help others in recovery. I am so proud of him,” said Tiefenauer.
Recovery Court is an alternative-sentencing program that gives local, non-violent offenders with substance use disorder the opportunity to complete an intense one-year-plus, court supervised recovery program. Participants undergo rigorous treatment for their disease and develop new habits for successful living. The program combines evidence-based substance use treatment with strict behavioral accountability, and ultimately, reduces the harmful effects of repeated and untreated addiction problems on the citizens of DeKalb County.
National Recovery Court Month in May is a celebration of the lives restored by recovery court, and it sends the powerful message that these programs must be expanded to reach more people in need.
“Recovery court is about saving lives, reuniting families, saving money, and reducing crime,” said Arnold. “Its also to treat substance use disorders, treat mental health, deliver services for life-long recovery, secure education and employment, break the cycle of addiction in families, reduce re-arrests, reduce substance use and overdose, reduce emergency room admissions, and much more,” she added.
The graduation program Wednesday began with an opening prayer by Jammie Hood, Family Treatment Case Manager; remarks from Tamera Dodson, a December Recovery Court graduate; Amanda Parsley, a recovering addict now clean and sober for almost six years who has been a member of a peer support home group with Dylan; and Colby Lane, a 2019 graduate of the Smith County Recovery Court, CRPS with the Macon County Prevention Coalition, and former Regional Overdose Prevention and Hybrid Lifetime Coordinator.
As a recovering addict, Lane had some advice for Goodman on his path to recovery.
“Don’t compromise your recovery for anything. I learned that whatever I put before my recovery would eventually cost me my recovery. Compromise leads to complacency which leads to captivity so If I compromise on my recovery today, chances are I will compromise on it again until I become complacent to my compromise and once I do that I become captive to the pattern I have created,” said Lane. “Get comfortable being uncomfortable. Being uncomfortable lets you know you are in a position of growth because growth is uncomfortable. In my home group, we say trust God, clean house, and help others. Congratulations,” added Lane.
Judge Cook started the Recovery Court Program for juveniles in 2002 and later for adults in 2006 and while he will be stepping down from the bench when his term expires on August 31, his successor, either Tecia Puckett Pryor or Brandon Cox has agreed to carry it on.
Recovery Court is perhaps Judge Cook’s proudest endeavor as judge and he is convinced it has made a difference in the lives of many.
“Do you want to take someone who is addicted to drugs or alcohol and spend maybe $5,000 a year giving them treatment so they can become a responsible, respectable person or do you just want to throw them in jail for about $20,000 a year of taxpayer money?” “It’s a no brainer,” said Judge Cook.
“We have seen people regain custody of their children which is amazing. Virtually all of our participants who are able to work get a good job and often for the first time in their lives and that is certainly rewarding. I believe God puts us here for a purpose and I think one of the reasons we are here is to help our fellowman and in that regard I think each of us has certain gifts that the Lord has given us whether its educators, therapists, counselors, etc. I think on judgment day I will stand before God and He will say I gave you certain gifts, now what did you do with them. I know I have fallen short, but I have been blessed with being judge. It’s a blessing to have had the opportunity to help people,” said Judge Cook.