Recovery Court holds community luncheon in Williamson County

FRANKLIN, Tenn. (WTVF) – An event in Williamson County on Monday raised money and awareness for a nonprofit organization that helps people battle addiction.

The gathering also served as an opportunity to honor someone who has worked for decades to restore people’s lives.

The 21st District Restorative Court – serving Williamson County – has been helping people change their lives since 2002.

“We serve people who need addiction mental health services,” said Connie Martin, program director for the 21st District Recovery Court.

The court offers non-violent offenders suffering from addiction the opportunity to complete a two-year program in lieu of a traditional sentence.

“They apply to our program and they’re put on probation. As part of their probation, they have to complete our program,” Martin said.

Connie Branham has graduated.

“I thought it would be a piece of cake to go through it, but it’s not, you have so many demands,” Branham said.

Branham was one of several speakers at the court’s 14th Community Luncheon Monday at the Williamson County Enrichment Center.

“I started doing exactly what I needed to do, I actually felt like I found a family,” Branham said.

Part of that family is attorney Jeff Mosely, who received the court’s Gayle Moyer Harris Award. He has a long history with the organization.

“I was on the board when we started this award, so little did I know that things could come full circle again,” Moseley said.

The award is named after one of the court’s founders.

Mosely has seen the court’s impact firsthand over the years.

To date, approximately 300 people have completed the program, with a 90% success rate.

“The most important thing is what it does: it focuses on the addiction, not the crime,” Mosely said.

While the award is an honor, Mosely said it was not his goal.

“Service is a reward in itself. I didn’t do this to get a reparation award. We did it to try to make our community better.” Moseley said.

The 21st District Recovery Court was established in 2002 through a three-year grant from the U.S. Department of Justice.

The court spends about $15,000 per participant, mostly from grants and private donations.

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