Jessamyn Marquez, Thurston County Mental Health Court

“I am so very grateful for all of the benefits this court has afforded me in just a short time. I have been able to show my commitment to sobriety through urinary analysis testing, and the financial burden has been lifted, allowing me to use community service as a way to cover the cost. I have also been allowed to stay in the community and attend my regular AA meetings in person and over Zoom, while keeping in contact with my sponsor daily. This would not be possible if I were sitting in jail. Being a part of mental health court has helped keep my recovery and mental health first.

Garrett Jones, Thurston County Veterans Court Graduate ‘18

“I am a seven-year Army veteran who now serves his community as an Adult at a local non-profit community mental health agency. As a student of psychology, one thing we know is that humans don’t make change by throwing the book at them. Humans make change when they feel adequately supported in undertaking the arduous task of doing so. A humble thank you to the entire Veterans Court Program for being able to see me through my addictions and separate the actions from the actor. My newest mission: to provide support to as many who are ready to meet those challenges. My only enemy is myself. And I will not lose!”

Evyne Turner, Thurston County Mental Health Court

“My name is Evyne Turner, I am 29 years old and I have been a participant of MHC for the past 4 years. In this time I have grown into the person I’ve hoped to one day become. I am able to set and achieve goals in a healthy manner as well as utilizing my self-care tools to the fullest every day.

Art has always been a passion that I use for therapy/motivation throughout my life. Being a participant has taught me to take a step back and evaluate my foundation, ensuring that I’m healthy and able to achieve the goals I have set. I’ve built awareness, confidence, and self-love to name a few, so I’d like to say thank you to MHC.”

Patty's life was marked by unimaginable trauma from a young age. Her sister was repeatedly beaten by her stepfather, and Patty herself was subjected to years of sexual abuse and rape. She turned to drugs to numb the pain, but soon found herself facing a long prison sentence for drug-related crimes. However, Patty's life took a turn for the better when she found hope and direction in the Drug Court Program. Through the program, she was able to confront her addiction and start to heal from the wounds of her past. Today, she is a living testament to the transformative power of the Drug Court Program, which has given her a new lease on life and helped her break the cycle of addiction and trauma.

Victoria Montgomery was 14 when she took her first drink. By 16, already graduated from high school with a bright future, she smoked marijuana. Then, as the years blurred by, she got hooked on hard drugs – cocaine, methamphetamine, opiates. Things changed for Montgomery in the late 1990s. After willingly spending six months in a Christian-based treatment center, Montgomery chose to face her last outstanding warrant and attend drug court – a heavily monitored 18-month program for drug offenders and an alternative to jail.  The program changed her life.

As a combat veteran, Christopher’s life was a mess after serving two deployments in Iraq. Suffering from post traumatic stress disorder, anger anxiety and alcoholism, he needed help. He experienced an amazing recovery through his participation in the Therapeutic Courts program. He is now working on a degree in physical therapy which he plans to use working at the Veterans Hospital with other vets suffering injuries from the war. “Thank you to the Therapeutic Courts system,” he said. “I’m a proud Marine Corps combat veteran and a proud graduate of the Veterans program trying to make a difference in the world.”

Cary M. had hit rock bottom. As a heroin addict, alcoholic, felon, and criminal, he felt like a menace to society. For a decade, he had been chasing death and leaving a trail of destruction in his wake. He had robbed his loved ones of everything that mattered most to them, including trust, friendship, love, dignity, and comfort.

But then, Cary found hope in the Therapeutic Court system. Through this program, he was able to turn his life around and begin a journey toward recovery. Today, he stands tall and proud as he completes drug court.

This is the kind of positive result that the court programs aim for. They are designed to help people like Cary get back on their feet and lead fulfilling lives.

Cary's story is not unique. There are countless others like him who have found hope and healing through the court programs. These programs are a testament to the power of compassion and the human spirit's resilience.

I was a broken woman with no coping skills for life. I was in a domestic violence’s relationship and fell into addiction. Started committing crimes to feed my addiction. It progressed to the point where I was in and out of jail and destroyed all the relationships in my life. I lost everything. I was hopeless and thought I had done too much damage to ever have a good life again. Finally, I was willing to admit I had a problem and went into treatment. After completing 3 months of inpatient treatment I entered Thurston County Drug Court. Treatment gave me a good start, but drug court changed my life. I began working on cleaning up my wreckage. I started embracing the change and learned coping skills. I gained integrity and self-worth. I rebuilt myself from the inside out.

These are some of the most traumatic memories, but I now can use my story to help others. I now have over 4 years clean and sober. I am a responsible member of society and I use my expertise to give back.  I have been working in the treatment field since 2017, working with clients with mental health and or substance use disorders. I am a contact in the community for recovery resources. I am passionate about helping others. I am active member in recovery and a role model for others in the recovery community.

Drug Court saved my life, I am forever grateful.