News

23rd Circuit Intervention Court celebrates success of 2025 graduates

November 25, 2025

The 23rd Circuit Intervention Court recognized nine participants who successfully completed the court’s structured rehabilitation and monitoring program at a graduation ceremony on Nov. 24 at the Copiah County Courthouse in Hazlehurst.

Circuit Judge Tomika H. Irving commended the graduates on their adherence to program requirements and their sustained efforts toward long-term recovery. “Completion of this program represents a significant personal and civic achievement,” Judge Irving said. “Each participant has met the standards established by the Legislature and this court, and you have demonstrated meaningful progress in rebuilding stable, responsible lives.”

The 23rd Circuit Court includes Copiah, Claiborne and Jefferson counties.

The intervention court program, established to address substance-related offenses through treatment and supervision rather than traditional punitive measures, requires participants to complete multiple phases of counseling, drug screening, court appearances, employment or education benchmarks, and community service. Participants are admitted based on eligibility standards and remain under continuous oversight of the court and its multidisciplinary team.

Judge Irving recognized the coordinated efforts of the intervention court staff, treatment providers, and law enforcement agencies. “This program functions effectively because of the consistent cooperation among agencies committed to public safety and rehabilitation,” she said. “Their work ensures that participants receive the structure, resources, and support necessary to achieve successful outcomes.”

The mission of the 23rd Circuit Intervention Court is to enhance the effectiveness and cost effectiveness of the 23rd Circuit Court’s criminal justice system by providing intense case management, treatment, and court supervision for substance abusing offenders, thereby reducing crime and providing public safety. By holding participants accountable for their actions and providing them access to a diverse range of needed services such as life skills and job training preparedness, the participants will be equipped with the necessary tools to lead a productive drug free and crime free life. The mission also includes improving a participant’s quality of life and returning that participant to the community as a productive, tax-paying, and law-abiding citizen, thereby reducing the rate of recidivism and breaking the drug cycle within our jurisdiction.

For more information on the 23rd Circuit Intervention Court program, visit www.ms23circuit.com/forms and click on “Intervention Court General Information” or call the office at (601) 894-6193.

####