Recovery Court

“Changing Behaviors, Changing Lives"

20th Judicial Circuit
Ottawa County Recovery Court
414 Washington Street, Suite 300
Grand Haven, MI 49417
Phone: (616) 846-8352
FAX: (616) 846-8179

Honorable Mark A. Feyen

Recovery Court Judge

Andrew Brown
Recovery Court Coordinator

Emily Achterhof
Recovery Court Case Manager

OCRC Documents & Forms

The following program documents are available for download:

Mission Statement

To promote recovery and reduce criminal activity

Vision Statement

As a leader among specialty courts, we provide evidence-based programming to all eligible individuals.

About the Ottawa County Recovery Court (OCRC)

The OCRC is a voluntary, intensive probation program that accepts defendants who are residents of Ottawa County and convicted of non-violent drug/alcohol related felonies in the 20th Circuit Court.

The OCRC has been operating since 2005, has accepted over 300 participants, and has a 65% graduation rate. The OCRC is able to accommodate up to 60 participants and takes a minimum of 18 months to complete. We are funded through grants from the Michigan State Court Administrative Office, Bureau of Justice Assistance, and the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration.

OCRC Eligibility Criteria

A person referred to the OCRC must complete a thorough legal and clinical screening process to be considered for admission. The following criteria are used to determine eligibility:

Basic Eligibility Requirements (reviewed by OCRC Coordinator)

Age 18 or older.
Legal resident of the United States.
Resident of Ottawa County or City of Holland.
Has pled guilty to all original charges.
No pending charges in another jurisdiction and no outstanding bench warrants.
Not on probation/parole in another jurisdiction.
Not been in a specialty court in the past 2 years.
Not been in the OCRC in the past 3 years.
A link exists between current offense and use of drugs or alcohol.

Legal Eligibility Requirements (reviewed by the Ottawa County Prosecutor’s Office)

Prior record shall not include:

CSC – first degree, second degree, or third degree.
Any assaultive felony (except Resisting and Obstructing a Police Officer).
More than two delivery, manufacture, or possession with intent to deliver a controlled substance charges.
Any felony offense involving a firearm.

Current charges shall not include:

Any offense involving death or serious bodily injury to an individual whether or not any of the circumstances are an element of the offense, or an offense that is criminal sexual conduct of any degree. MCL 600.1060(g).
Any assaultive felony (except Resisting and Obstructing a Police Officer).
Delivery, manufacture, or possession with intent to deliver methamphetamine or heroin.
Any offense involving use of a firearm.
Home Invasion first degree.

In cases where participation would make the applicant eligible for (1) discharge or dismissal of an offense, (2) delayed sentence, or (3) deviation from the sentencing guidelines, the Prosecutor has statutory authority to veto such participation. See MCL 600.1068(2).

While the prosecutor has discretion to disapprove an applicant for reasons not listed in section III (D) of this policy, any applicant whose referral is disapproved by the Prosecutor may still request that the sentencing Judge order him or her to participate in the OCRC at the time of sentencing.

Clinical Eligibility Requirements (reviewed by OCRC substance abuse treatment provider)

Qualify for substance use treatment at the level of Intensive Outpatient (IOP) or higher.
No health conditions that require continuous management with medical marijuana, opiate, or other narcotic medications.
No mental illness requiring the long-term prescription of medication with addictive properties.
No severe and persistent mental health diagnosis or significant cognitive impairment.