Denver County Court has launched Recovery Court, a specialty treatment court that provides structured care and comprehensive support for individuals whose substance use has contributed to criminal justice involvement. The program is designed to address complex needs, aiming to remove barriers to treatment and expand access to services.
Presiding Judge Kerri Lombardi called Recovery Court the product of “an extensive, collaborative effort to meet the needs of a complex, high-risk population” and said it represents a step forward in both public safety and rehabilitative care. Judge Kelly Cherry will oversee the docket, which handles drug-related and “drug-adjacent” cases, such as trespassing and petty theft, taking over cases previously heard by the HEM Court.
Mayor Mike Johnston emphasized the program’s potential to break cycles of short-term punishment, noting it could serve as a model for addressing quality-of-life crimes with compassion and fairness.
Partner organizations, including Spanish Clinic, Mile High Behavioral Health, the Brain Injury Association of Colorado and others, will provide treatment and reentry services. Success will be measured by participant engagement and reductions in overdose, recidivism and incarceration rates.