FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Cherokee County Coordinators Earn State Certification in Drug Court Leadership

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Cherokee County, GA – October 17, 2025 — Two leaders from Cherokee County’s accountability courts have earned statewide recognition for their dedication to justice reform and public service. Lynn Epps and Shannon Kirby have been officially certified as Drug Court Coordinators by the Council of Accountability Court Judges of Georgia (CACJ).

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The certification, offered through the University of Georgia’s Carl Vinson Institute of Government, marks a significant professional milestone for court coordinators who demonstrate excellence in program management and a commitment to evidence-based practices. The certification ceremony took place on September 17, 2025, during CACJ’s annual training conference in Athens, which also celebrated the council’s 10th anniversary.

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Ms. Epps serves as the coordinator for the Cherokee County Superior Court Drug Accountability Court, which provides adults with treatment, supervision, and judicial oversight as an alternative to incarceration. The program promotes accountability while addressing the root causes of addiction, supporting participants as they reintegrate successfully into the community.

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Ms. Kirby coordinates both the Juvenile Family Treatment Court and the PATH Program (Promoting Accountability Through Healing), a Juvenile Treatment Court initiative. The Family Treatment Court partners with parents whose children are in or at risk of entering foster care, helping them overcome substance use challenges through treatment and supportive services. The PATH Program focuses on youth at moderate to high risk for substance use disorders, combining structure, therapy, and accountability to help them make positive, lasting changes before lifelong consequences take hold.

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Across Georgia, accountability courts, including drug courts, mental health courts, and family treatment courts, continue to produce measurable results. According to CACJ, there are 188 accountability courts statewide, serving more than 8,000 participants annually. In Fiscal Year 2024 alone, 1,814 Georgians graduated from these programs, 34 families were reunified, and 16 drug-free babies were born to participating mothers. A recent economic study found that accountability courts save the state nearly $5,000 per participant, generating more than $41 million in economic benefits each year.

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In Cherokee County, these numbers reflect real lives transformed - parents reunited with their children, youth given the opportunity to change course, and adults achieving recovery while becoming productive members of the community.