Recovery Court

Mission Statement

The mission of the Benton County Recovery Court is to transform the lives of justice involved individuals with substance use disorders by coordinating effective and accountable substance use treatment and supportive services with the goal of enhancing public safety and reducing recidivism.

Court Information

The Therapeutic Court office is located on the first floor of the Justice Center. 

Weekly Recovery Court hearings are held every Wednesday in Courtroom 6 beginning at 2:00 PM.

The Recovery Court Team

About Recovery Court

The Benton County Recovery Court began operating in October 2022.  Referrals are being accepted on an on-going basis.  Referrals should be faxed or delivered to the Therapeutic Court Office located on the first floor of the Benton County Justice Center.  All referrals will be screened for eligibility.  If eligible, the defendant will be contacted by the Therapeutic Court Assistant Coordinator to schedule an appointment.

Participation in Recovery Court is strictly voluntary.  To be eligible, an individual must be charged with a misdemeanor or gross misdemeanor Benton County.  Individuals must have a diagnosable substance use disorder. 

Circumstances which would make an individual ineligible for Recovery Court include: active warrants in other jurisdictions, previous history of a sex offense, history of a severe violent offense as defined in RCW 9.94A.030, or cases in which a firearm was involved in the commission of the crime.  This is not an exclusive list of exclusionary criteria.  Please see the participant handbook or contact a member of the Therapeutic Court team for more information.

Recovery Court is a voluntary, specialized, treatment-oriented court that reframes the traditional legal process with an emphasis on treatment and accountability for defendants with substance use disorders charged with misdemeanor or gross misdemeanor criminal charges in Benton County.

To enter Recovery Court, you must sign a Stipulated Order of Continuance (SOC) which means that the case is held in a pretrial status for up to 24 months while you participate in Recovery Court.  If you successfully complete the program, your charge may be dismissed or amended to a lesser charge.  Your attorney will discuss this with you in more detail.

Participants appear in court frequently and meet with their case manager regularly. Participants are required to participate in substance use disorder treatment, mental health treatment, perform community service, make regular court appearances, and are monitored closely for program compliance. The Recovery Court team works collaboratively with community providers to help each participant establish the necessary foundation to gain control of their life.