12th Circuit Intervention Court graduation set for September 28 in Hattiesburg

12th Circuit Intervention Court graduation set for September 28 in Hattiesburg

September 25, 2026

About 25 people who have turned their lives around in the Twelfth Circuit Intervention Court will be honored at a graduation ceremony on Sept. 28 at 3 p.m. at the Lake Terrace Convention Center in Hattiesburg.

Supreme Court Chief Justice Mike Randolph of Hattiesburg will be the guest speaker. Circuit Judge T. Michael Reed will make a special presentation. Circuit Judge Wes Curry will recognize graduates. Several of the graduates are expected to speak about their experiences with drug addiction and recovery.

September is National Recovery Month. In recent years, the Twelfth Circuit, which includes Forrest and Perry counties, has held its graduation program in September.

The late Circuit Judge Robert Helfrich started the drug court program in the Twelfth Circuit Court in October 2003. Judge Helfrich was among the earliest to establish separate programs for military veterans and for DUI offenders.

Intervention courts seek to rehabilitate drug-using offenders through drug treatment and intense supervision with drug testing and frequent court appearances. In addition to remaining drugfree, all participants must be employed, perform community service and have a high school diploma or GED before graduating. Intervention courts provide participants access to resources and opportunities they need by coordinating the efforts of the judiciary, prosecution, defense counsel, probation, law enforcement, treatment, mental health and social service providers.

More than 3,700 participants are enrolled in 50 intervention courts across the state. Programs include 23 adult felony intervention courts, 13 juvenile programs, eight family intervention courts and six mental health treatment courts.

Statewide, during the past 20 years, 12,490 people have graduated from intervention courts, and 978 babies were born drug-free to participants. The drug-free babies represent a taxpayer savings of more than $732.5 million, based on an estimated savings of $750,000 over the first 18 years of life for each drug-free baby.

The past 20 years of savings on drug free babies born, combined with avoided incarceration costs plus fines and fees paid by intervention court participants represent total savings to state taxpayers of $1,884,223,039.

####