MURFREESBORO, Tenn. (WGNS News) - Rutherford County officials recently dedicated a renovated and expanded Recovery Court building in honor of two people credited with helping establish and shape the county’s Recovery Court system: Judge Don R. Ash and the late Mary Catherine Schneider.

The dedication followed completion of a $1.5 million renovation and expansion project designed to provide additional classroom and training space for the program. Rutherford County’s Recovery Court Program includes Drug Court with Judge Jimmy Turner, Mental Health Court with Judge Barry Tidwell, DUI Court with Judge Lisa Eischeid and Veterans Treatment Court with Judge Trey McFarlin.

Rutherford County Recovery Courts and Re-Entry Director LaChelle Ricks said the dedication recognized more than a building, describing it as a tribute to the vision, leadership and commitment of Ash and Schneider.

“Today's dedication is more than the recognition of a building, it is a tribute to the vision, leadership, and unwavering commitment of Judge Don Ash and Mary Schneider,” Ricks said. “More than 25 years ago, they recognized that individuals in this county struggling with Substance Use Disorders and Mental Health needed accountability paired with treatment, support, and hope. Because of their foresight in establishing Recovery Courts in Rutherford County, thousands of lives have been transformed, families have been reunited, and our community is stronger today. We would not be where we are without their courage to embrace a new approach to justice. It is a privilege to honor their legacy and continue the work they began.”

The second-chance program is designed to help participants address substance abuse and other underlying issues while reducing recidivism and helping people move out of the criminal justice system and toward productive lives.

Rutherford County Mayor Joe Carr served as emcee for the dedication and recalled first learning about Recovery Court in 2009 while serving as a Tennessee legislator. After becoming county mayor, Carr said Ricks told him 124 people were waiting to enter the program, prompting him to make expansion of Recovery Court part of his vision for Rutherford County.

“This program literally changes people’s lives,” Carr said. “There is no downside, it’s a win-win.”

Ash addressed a crowded room that included State Sen. Shane Reeves, judges, former mayors, business owners and other community members. He emphasized the importance of offering people another opportunity to turn their lives around.

“No one is beyond hope, no one is beyond redemption,” Ash said. “Every life has value and with God’s grace every life is worth fighting for.”

Schneider died in 2016, but her family was represented at the dedication by her son, Christian Knaak. County officials described Schneider as a pioneer of Recovery Court programs in Tennessee and a dedicated advocate for recovery, rehabilitation and families affected by substance abuse.

The program she helped establish has positively impacted hundreds of participants and their families, according to the county. Schneider was remembered for her work in Rutherford County Drug Court and for the fulfillment she found in seeing families restored through sobriety.

“Drug Court wasn’t just something she did, it was part of who she was, it was her calling,” Knaak said. “She will always be my hero.”

Judge Jimmy Turner encouraged those attending the ceremony to attend a Recovery Court graduation and see firsthand the progress made by participants. Turner also thanked Carr for supporting the program and attending graduations during his term as mayor.

“Go to a graduation, it will change your life,” Turner said.

Attorney Jack Mitchell, president of the Recovery Courts Support Foundation, echoed that message.

“It restores lives and recovers families,” Mitchell said.

District 16 Commissioner Phil Dodd also spoke about his family’s personal connection to substance abuse and recovery.

“I’ve experienced the agony of recovery and the victory of recovery,” Dodd said.

County officials said Ash and Schneider believed a rehabilitation-centered judicial model built around accountability, treatment, recovery and long-term reintegration could produce lasting results for people struggling with addiction, rather than relying solely on incarceration. Their work helped establish an approach Rutherford County officials say will continue affecting future generations.

PHOTO BELOW (Scroll Down): A photograph below shows Rutherford County Mayor Joe Carr, Christian Knaak and Judge Don R. Ash standing beside the newly dedicated “Judge Don R. Ash & Mary C. Schneider Building.” The photo was credited to Rutherford County Sheriff’s Office Deputy Laura Kunce.