The Clark County ROSC (Recovery-Oriented System of Care) Council will host a Recovery Court Panel Discussion on April 30, 2026, at 11:30am at Harlan Hall, located at 603 Locust St., Marshall, Illinois. This event will bring together community members, professionals, and local leaders for a community conversation on smarter justice and recovery solutions.
Titled “Supporting a Future Recovery Court in Clark County; A Community Discussion on Smarter Justice,” this luncheon event is designed to educate the community, address common misconceptions, and explore what it would take to implement a recovery court locally.
This event is supported by the Human Resources Center of Edgar and Clark Counties (HRC), a leader in recovery and mental health services, and reflects a collaborative effort to strengthen recovery supports and justice system outcomes in Clark County.
The panel will feature a diverse group of experts and individuals with lived experience, including:
- Judge Mark Shaner (Retired), Illinois Second Judicial Circuit Court
- Sheriff Bill Brown, Clark County Sherriff’s Dept
- Danessa Carter, PhD, LCPC, Assistant Professor, Eastern Illinois University
- Michelle Edwards, MS, LCSW, Mental Health Therapist, HRC
- Ismene “Issy” Kelley, Case Manager, Vigo County Court System
- Jynger Jenkins, Recovery Court Graduate
Recovery courts are a proven, evidence-based approach that combine treatment, accountability, and structured supervision to reduce recidivism, lower incarceration costs, and support long-term recovery. This panel will guide attendees through key questions critical to understanding and implementing recovery courts, including:
- What recovery court is—and what it is not
- How accountability is maintained through structured supervision and treatment
- How recovery courts impact public safety, families, and local systems
- What successful programs look like in communities similar to Clark County
- What strengths and gaps exist locally
- What steps are needed to launch a recovery court in a rural community
“This panel is about more than information. It’s about building a system of care in Clark County that supports recovery and creates real opportunities for change,” said Bobbye Scott, Clark County ROSC Council Coordinator. “We are bringing together voices from across the justice system, treatment providers, and lived experience to help our community understand what’s possible and what it will take to move forward.”
As Clark County continues to address substance use challenges, justice system demands, and community well-being, this event offers an opportunity to engage in meaningful dialogue about solutions that strengthen both accountability and recovery outcomes.
Attendees will have the opportunity to hear directly from panelists, engage in discussion, ask questions, and learn how they can support next steps toward developing a recovery court locally.
Who should attend includes: community members, local employers, civic and faith leaders, court and justice partners, and anyone interested in solutions that strengthen safety and stability.
Lunch will be provided. Registration is encouraged to secure a meal.
Bobbye Scott
Clark County ROSC Council Coordinator
bobbyes@hourhouserecovery.org
812-239-0998
