Bibb accountability courts celebrate staff, community partners

Bibb County became host to the first drug court in 1994, leading the way for other court programs that provide people accused of crimes with alternatives to incarceration.

Mental health court began in 2007, followed by parent accountability court in 2013 and veterans court in 2014.

Court staff, judges and community partners gathered Monday for a celebration of the programs' accomplishments and to honor those who have made them successful.

"Macon-Bibb County in considered a leader as it relates to accountability courts," Superior Court Judge Verda Colvin told the crowd of about 50 people.

In addition to the programs for adults, several accountability courts offer services in the county's Juvenile Court, she said.

"Macon-Bibb County has been known as a community that cares about giving people a second chance to restore their lives by offering services to local citizens who would otherwise be incarcerated for their crimes," Colvin said.

The budget for the four adult court programs accounts for less than 1 percent of the county budget, she said.

Superior Court Judge Phil Raymond, the presiding judge for parent accountability court, said that program has served more than 100 people, graduating 20 participants.

People in the program who previously had not been making required child support payments have worked to catch up on the amount they owe, increasing the amount paid to local children and families by 225 percent while saving the county nearly $500,000 in incarceration costs, he said.

Among the community partners and staff honored were the drug court counselors.

"There's not a finer group of counselors in any court anywhere," said Superior Court Judge Howard Simms, the judge presiding over the drug court program.

Providing services to about 75 clients each year, the counselors don't just help when the court programs are in session, he said.

"They're also there when these people need somebody to talk to," Simms said.

To contact writer Amy Leigh Womack, call 744-4398.

This story was originally published December 14, 2015 at 10:17 PM with the headline "Bibb accountability courts celebrate staff, community partners ."