Statements
Mission
The 23rd District Judicial Advocates, Inc. serves the needs of citizens who find themselves negotiating the complicated maze of the criminal justice system, the juvenile justice system, or those who stand on the threshold of such involvement, and who need physical and/or financial support. Emphasis is placed on assisting with services promptly when required, and to seek long-term solutions to chronic problems such as alcohol and drug addicition while assisting individuals and their families to live outside the justice system.
Background
The Twenty Third Judicial Advocates strives to provide services needed by a segment of the population that is often overlooked, inmates who would be serving time if not for the intervention of the Twenty Third Judicial Advocates. With our holistic approach of addressing the needs of participants and their families, over 90% of our graduates stay clean and sober and out of the criminal justice system. The 23rd Judicial Advocates and the 23rd Judicial District Drug Court Team are made up of Circuit Court Judge Suzanne Lockert-Mash, a probation officer, a Drug Court Director, A DUI Court Director, a paralegal, two case managers, a representative from the District Attorney General's office, two representatives from the District Public Defender's office, and four Drug Court staff members.
Impact
Provided housing and food for 50 recovering drug addicts and alcoholics residing in the corporation's three Sober Living Residences.Provided a stable structure, jobs, transportation, and counseling for 50 recovering drug addicts and alcoholics in the 23rd Judicial District Drug Court Program.Assisted in finding in-patient treatment at treatment facilities across the state for drug addicts and alcoholics in the 23rd Judicial District Drug Court and others who have sought our assistance. The Drug Court provides educational and job skill assistance, accounting services, legal services, mental health services, and assistance in locating employment. Our Drug Court graduates leave us as tax-paying, productive citizens. While the participants are in our sober living residences, their families are provided counseling, financial assistance, and other support services. Our Drug Court has saved our local communities hundreds of thousands of dollars in prosecution and incarceration costs alone.
Needs
Because of the large geographical area served (Cheatham, Dickson, Houston, Humphreys, and Stewart Counties), funds for drug & alcohol treatment, counseling, dual diagnosis, education, job skill training, & other support services are needed. Funds for housing maintenance & supervision costs related to the management of sober living homes and for transportation & support services to the participants' families, including practical services such as home repair & providing food & toys for the children at Christmas are needed.
CEO Statement
As CEO of the Twenty Third Judicial Advocates, and as a member of the 23rd Judicial Drug Court Team that it helps support, I have seen our organization grow to the point of being able to truly serve the needs of all who come into the Criminal justice system. Our Drug Court boast over a 90% success rate, but the little stories tell what we really do. A mother addicted to crack cocaine who is able to have a crack free baby and is now going into her fifth year of sobriety, children getting food and toys for Christmas even though their mom or dad is in jail or in treatment, or a man who is dual diagnosis and homeless that comes into our program and receives the treatment and support he needs to become a productive member of society. We are constantly growing. When we wanted to provide better supervised sober living environments to our participants, we opened three sober living homes, where our participants are required to live after treatment for at least ten months. We grow and learn as we grow and have developed into not just a not-for-profit corporation, but a family who makes it their mission to reach a segment of our society that is often easy to overlook.
Board Chair Statement
As President of the Twenty Third Judicial Advocates, and as a member of the 23rd Judicial Drug Court Team that it helps support, I have seen our organization grow to the point of being able to truly serve the needs of all who come into the Criminal justice system. Our Drug Court boast over a 90% success rate, but the little stories tell what we really do. A mother addicted to crack cocaine who is able to have a crack free baby and is now going into her fifth year of sobriety, children getting food and toys for Christmas even though their mom or dad is in jail or in treatment, or a man who is dual diagnosis and homeless that comes into our program and receives the treatment and support he needs to become a productive member of society. We are constantly growing. When we needed assistance in reaching a large urban African American population, we sent our team for the training needed and brought in a young African American man in recovery and an African American Pastor as members of our Drug Court Team. When we wanted to provide better supervised sober living environments to our participants, we opened four sober living homes, where our participants are required to live after treatment for at least six months. We grow and learn as we grow and have developed into not just a not-for-profit corporation, but a family who makes it their mission to reach a segment of our society that is often easy to overlook.
Service Categories |
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| Primary Category: | Crime & Legal - Related - Prison Alternatives |
| Secondary Category: | Housing, Shelter - Housing & Shelter NEC |
| Tertiary Category: | Health Care - Rehabilitative Care |
Areas Served
The 23rd Judicial District Drug Court serves the citizens of five counties: Cheatham, Dickson, Houston, Humphreys, and Stewart. All participants are required to live in Dickson County while they are in the program. For the first 10 months, they reside in Sober Living Houses provided by the 23rd District Judicial Advocates, Inc.
| TN - Cheatham |
| TN - Dickson |
| TN - Houston |
| TN - Humphreys |
| TN - Stewart |
