Program Eligibility
1. Applicant must be 18 years or older
2. Applicant is (or will be) a resident of Hamilton County, TN or a neighboring county in Tennessee, Georgia or Alabama (with team approval)
3. Clinically appropriate as determined by treatment provider:
a) Applicant has a substance use disorder and is determined as ‘High Risk/High Need’
b) Any co-occurring mental health disorders must be able to be sufficiently stabilized so that participant can comply with program requirements
4. Legally appropriate as determined by the Recovery Court Assistant District Attorney:
a) Charged with one or more drug-related charges; which means alcohol or drugs are known to be an underlying factor
b) Applicant is not registered as a sex offender
c) Offenses must not be considered violent charges listed under Tennessee Code 16-22-101, including the following:
i. “Convicted of an offense, during the course of which the person carried, possessed or used a firearm or dangerous weapon, there
occurred the death of or serious bodily injury to any person, or the person committed a felony involving the use of force against the
person of another.
ii. Or, has one (1) or more prior convictions for a felony crime of violence involving the use or attempted use of force against a person with
the intent to cause death or serious bodily harm
iii. Or, is convicted of domestic assault under 39-13-11
d) Applicant does not have any holds from any other jurisdiction
**Applicant/attorney is encouraged to see if this issue can be resolved in order to become eligible
5. Applicant must be willing to consent to sign all necessary medical releases to allow team members to coordinate care with prescribing physician(s) for physical, mental and substance use needs
6. Applicant is willing and able to meet all program requirements including attending treatment and court sessions, drug testing, maintenance of employment/school/volunteer requirements and must also be willing to comply with all rules set forth in the Recovery Court Contract, Participant Handbook, and any other applicable probation/furlough orders
Referral & Entry
The Recovery Court candidate’s application is filled out on RecoveryCourt.org/application by applicant, attorney, or any referral source. Paper applications can also be found in the Recovery Court office at 600 Market Street, office 302-A.
The referral source will receive an email verifying that application was received.
The Recovery Court Assistant District Attorney will determine applicant’s legal eligibility and verify prosecuting ADA approval to transfer.
a. If admission is denied due to applicant not meeting legal eligibility criteria, the
applicant will be notified by email.
b. If admission is opposed by prosecuting ADA, candidate’s attorney will be
responsible for notifying Recovery Court staff of time/date of contested hearing.
If presiding judge allows for the admission to the Recovery Court, the case will be
transferred for entry.
If applicant is approved by Recovery Court ADA for legal eligibility, the applicant will be scheduled for a Recovery Court assessment and deemed eligible by the Recovery Court team.
a. If admission is denied due to applicant not meeting clinical eligibility, the
applicant will be notified by email.
If applicant is clinically approved for the Recovery Court program, the applicant will be notified by email and should be scheduled for Recovery Court plea immediately. The candidate’s attorney will be responsible for transferring the case into Second Division.
The following items must be signed and completed prior to the plea:
b. Recovery Court Participant Handbook
c. Furlough Order (For General Sessions only).