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Treatment Courts

Buncombe County has three treatment courts coordinated by several community partners.

Treatment courts are a recovery based intervention to assist people living with substance use and mental health disorders out of the justice system and into lives of wellness and stability. Buncombe County has three treatment courts coordinated by the County.


  • Adult Drug Treatment Court
  • ASPIRE Court
  • Veteran Treatment Court

Adult Drug Treatment Court

The Buncombe County Adult Drug Treatment Court (DTC) seeks to reduce drug and prison recidivism, while specifically providing guidance, treatment, and discipline to those facing recovery from addiction. The DTC Team, comprised of probation, law enforcement, treatment providers and court officials, offers individuals the tools necessary to help maintain sobriety years after program completion.


Who may participate:

  • Be 18 years or older
  • Be a resident Buncombe County
  • Have an alleged substance use or alcohol abuse problem
  • Willing to participate in the program
  • Be involved in a criminal matter in Buncombe County Superior Court
  • Be able to understand and willing to comply with the program requirements
  • Complete an intake
  • Be approved by the DTC Operation Team

Referral Process:

Eligible individuals will consult with their attorneys to request a referral. Attorneys will consult with the DTC District Attorney to have their clients screened by the DTC Coordinator.

Documents:

Adult Drug Treatment Court Team:

Table: Adult Drug Treatment Court Team Members
Name Title Agency
Honorable Judge Alan Thornburg Presiding Judge 40th Judicial Superior Court Judge
Blaine Fish Coordinator Buncombe County Justice Services
Melissa Whitson Chief Probation Officer North Carolina Department of Adult Corrections
Crystal Booth Probation Officer North Carolina Department of Adult Corrections
Josh Harrold Assistant District Attorney District Attorney's Office, North Carolina 40th Judicial District
Scott Dennis Assistant Public Defender Public Defender's Office, North Carolina 40th Judicial District
Adrienne Wehking Social Worker North Carolina 40th Judicial District
Brandy Rose Justice Services Liaison Buncombe County Justice Services
Dr. Jamie Vaske Court Evaluator Western Carolina University
Madeline Watson Licensed Clinician Buncombe County Justice Services
Jessica Shepherd Treatment Liaison October Road, Inc.
Kara Meader Treatment Representative Vaya Health
Chief Mike Lamb Law Enforcement Representative Asheville Police Department
Officer Chrise Strumolo Law Enforcement Representative Asheville Police Department
Vivian Bacote Law Enforcement Representative Buncombe County Sheriff’s Office
Roy Rice Law Enforcement Representative Buncombe County Sheriff’s Office
Sheriff Quentin Miller Law Enforcement Representative Buncombe County Sheriff’s Office
Ashley Ramey Certified Peer Support Specialist Buncombe County Justice Services

Location and Time:

Notice: Adult Drug Treatment Court is every 2nd and 4th Friday of the month in the 9th floor courtroom of the Buncombe County Courthouse at 10:30am

Contact

Blaine Fish
ADTC Coordinator
P: (828) 250-6408

Buncombe County Courthouse
60 Court Plaza
Asheville, NC 28801

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Buncombe County ASPIRE Court

Mission/Vision/Purpose

The primary mission of Buncombe County ASPIRE Court is to increase public safety and save lives by reducing recidivism of persons with alcohol and drug use disorders. ASPIRE Court strives to make our streets safer; to create an effective and responsible partnership with community resources; and to foster accountability for the participants by increasing treatment and supervision for the repeat impaired driver.


Who may participate:

ASPIRE Court only accepts participants post-conviction. The ASPIRE Court target population is offenders with multiple DWI convictions and/or probation violation involving multiple DWI convictions with a history of substance use disorder, substance abuse, or addiction on a case-by-case basis. The target population is offenders with moderate to severe substance dependence. The ASPIRE Court primarily targets Aggravated Level 1, Level 1 and Level 2 offenders.

Referral Process:

Eligible individuals will consult with their defense attorneys to request a referral. Attorneys will consult with the ASPIRE Court District Attorney to have their clients screened by the ASPIRE Court Coordinator.

Documents:

ASPIRE Court Team

Table: ASPIRE Court Team Members
Name Title Agency
Julie Kepple Presiding Judge 40th Judicial District Court Judge
Brannon Wilson Chief Probation Officer North Carolina Department of Adult Corrections
Andrew Gutierrez Probation Officer North Carolina Department of Adult Corrections
Tiffany Graaff Coordinator Buncombe County Justice Services
Josh Harold Assistant District Attorney District Attorney’s Office, North Carolina 40th Judicial District
Susanna Knox Assistant Public Defender North Carolina 40th Judicial District
Madeline Watson Licensed Clinician Buncombe County Justice Services
Pam Sexton Corporal Deputy Sheriff Buncombe County Sheriff’s Office
Hannah Calloway Justice Services Liaison Buncombe County Justice Services
Patrick Sluder DWI Task Force Buncombe County Sheriff’s Office
Lisa Keys Treatment Representative Vaya Health
Ashley Ramey Certified Peer Support Specialist Buncombe County Justice Services

Location and Time:

Notice: ASPIRE Court sessions are held on the 2nd and 4th Tuesday of each month at 3:30pm in court room 3A.

Contact

Tiffany Graaff
ASPIRE Court Coordinator
P: (828) 250-4463

Buncombe County Courthouse
60 Court Plaza
Asheville, NC 28801

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Veterans Treatment Court

Image of veterans treatment court logo.

The mission of the Buncombe County Veteran’s Treatment Court is to promote public safety through accountability and responsibility, and to assist and support veterans and their families through a coordinated effort among the court and community-based Veteran services, – thereby leaving no veteran behind.


Who may participate:

To be eligible for participation in Veterans Treatment Court participants must:

  • Be 18 years or older
  • Be a resident Buncombe County
  • Have an alleged mental health or substance misuse disorder
  • Be charged with F-E felonies and/or Misdemeanors
  • Have served at least 1-day of active duty military service; or receive VA medical care
  • All discharge types accepted, except for Dishonorable Discharge
  • Be able to understand and willing to comply with the program requirements
  • Complete an intake and Comprehensive Clinical Assessment
  • Must be approved by the District Attorney’s office

Referral Process:

Eligible individuals will consult with their defense attorneys to request a referral to Veterans Treatment Court. Attorneys will consult with the VTC District Attorney to have their clients screened by the Veterans Treatment Court Coordinator.

Documents:

Veterans Treatment Court Team

Table: Veterans Treatment Court Team Members
Name Title Agency
Honorable Judge Marvin Pope Presiding Judge 40th Judicial Superior Court Judge
Katherine Houghton Veteran Justice Outreach Department of Veterans Affairs
Todd Williams District Attorney District Attorney's Office, North Carolina 40th Judicial District
Kerry Glasoe-Grant Assistant Public Defender Public Defender’s Office, North Carolina 40th Judicial District
Madeline Watson Licensed Clinician Buncombe County Justice Services
Heath Smith Veteran Service Officer Buncombe County Veterans Services
Roy Rice Law Enforcement Representative Buncombe County Sheriff’s Office
Charles Hess Law Enforcement Representative Buncombe County Sheriff’s Office
Jessica Case Certified Peer Support Specialist Veteran Services of the Carolinas
Eric Carpenter Treatment Representative Vaya Health
Robert Crume Law Enforcement Representative Asheville Police Department
Joan Davis Chief Probation Officer North Carolina Department of Adult Corrections
Jared Sutton Chief Probation Officer North Carolina Department of Adult Corrections
Asheley Ramey Certified Peer Support Specialist Buncombe County Justice Services

Location and Time:

Notice: VTC Court is every 1st and 3rd Friday of each month in the 9th floor courtroom of the Buncombe County Courthouse at 10:30am

Contact

Kevin Rumley, MSW, LCAS, LCSW, CCS
Veterans Treatment Court - Coordinator
P: (828) 250-6831

Buncombe County Courthouse
60 Court Plaza
Asheville, NC 28801

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Locate & Contact

Treatment Courts

Contact

Jillian Davis, Supervisor
Buncombe County Treatment Courts
P: (828) 250-4653

Buncombe County Courthouse
60 Court Plaza
Asheville, NC 28801

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