From Survival to Strength: How Drug Court Helped Mindi Bowman Build a New Life
Our reasons for making life changes evolve with age, experience, and perspective. For many, Thurston County’s therapeutic courts start as a way to avoid a harsher penalty or a lifelong criminal record. That was the case for Mindi Bowman.
Until 2013, her record was limited to minor infractions like speeding tickets. But when she faced prison time for a first-time drug offense, she discovered a new path—one that led to a completely different future.
“I’d never been to jail,” Bowman recalls. “But I heard about drug court, asked for it, and was approved.” She shared her story with the court, explaining how she had been raised in an environment filled with drugs and alcohol. The administrators saw her as the perfect candidate for a fresh start.
“At first, the program was a huge adjustment,” she admits. “It’s very strict and structured, but that’s what helped. I didn’t know any other way. I went in just to avoid prison, but the meetings and steps taught me a whole new way to live.”
That realization changed everything. “A friend in the program told me the biggest thing to learn was acceptance,” she explains. “Once I was in, I started to understand and accept other possibilities—even good ones. Drug court became the foundation for my recovery. It gave me the tools to build a real life.”
Now, 11 years sober, Bowman remains involved, helping others navigate the same journey. She helped found the drug court alumni group, which supports new participants as they adjust to the program.
“We started these meetings to help people understand the recovery process,” she says. “We wanted to show them that they can do it, because we’ve done it. It makes a difference to have real people—people who have walked the same path—share their experience and remind them there’s life after court.”
Like anyone, Bowman has faced challenges along the way. When her son was sentenced to prison, she took time to grieve, but never allowed herself to fall back into old patterns.
“I’ve learned to look for the why—the reason to stay clean,” she says. “And that reason has changed over the years. But no matter what, when you don’t know what else to do, pick up the phone. Call a friend, call a sponsor. Then go to a meeting. You’ve earned that seat, and people there can help.”
For those considering drug court, Bowman offers simple advice: Take the opportunity.
“It’s okay if at first, you’re just doing it to avoid jail,” she says. “Because in the process, you’ll gain so much more than a clean record. Somewhere along the road, you’ll really get it—and that’s a win/win, no matter what brought you there.”