“Our program deals with operating while intoxicated, either under alcohol or controlled substances, and the reality is this issue, this concern and problem, is in every single community.”
Designed to address the root causes of criminal behavior, the 63rd District Recovery Court was established in 2021. Chief Judge Jeffrey O’Hara has sat on the court’s bench since 2014 playing a key role in its certification.
“And the reason why we call it Recovery Court and not Sobriety Court is because it’s so much more than sobriety. Sobriety is the cornerstone for sure, but we also deal with the mental health aspect of it, physical health, emotional health, spiritual health, because we’re dealing with broken lives.”
Individuals convicted of at least two operating while intoxicated with alcohol or drug violations qualify for Recovery Court. O’Hara says it’s not so much a court as it is a program, focused less on punishment and more on restoring one’s life, where jailtime is often a last resort.
“I try to build them up and give them positive reinforcement and every session, as we start, I speak for about 2 or 3 minutes just trying to give them a theme of some sort of motivation.”
Judge O’Hara says it’s common for many individuals going through Recovery Court to relapse, but the court’s methods have proven successful for those who refuse to give up and stick to the program.
