Jay Hobbs faced prison at age 25 but found redemption through Georgia’s Resource Court. Its rigorous support system transformed his life, offering him hope over punishment.
Jay Hobbs never imagined he would be standing in a courtroom at 25 years of age, let alone waiting for a judge to decide his fate between freedom or a prison sentence. A 2019 graduate of Emory University, he had never encountered so much as a hint of legal trouble. However, when the COVID-19 pandemic struck, his mental health took a hit and sent his life down an unexpected and troubling path.
“I felt thrust into a situation that I didn’t belong in,” Hobbs said. “I was confused and felt like my life was spinning like a carousel. You get to a really low point, and you get so low that even though you may realize that you need help, you may not know how to pursue that help even when it’s put in front of you. You might be like, ‘I don’t need it. I feel like I can handle it.’ You know you don’t realize how far things have gone.”
In December 2021, he was sentenced to one year of incarceration and nine years of probation. However, instead of serving time in prison, Hobbs was given a second chance through his 20-month journey in Georgia’s Accountability Court Program, also known as Resource Court.
“They offered me an alternative to the kind of time I was facing. Any chance of getting out, I was like, ‘Yes,’” Hobbs said. “I got into the program. I knew it entailed a few different things. There was a 40-page handbook of rules that you had to follow, so it was pretty intimidating initially, but it’s a program that you have to want to do. You have to want change to shift your situation. The program is great because they have the resources for you to make that change.”
“I was kept on the straight and narrow, which I actually found really helpful.”
Jay Hobbs
Hobbs considers the program to be both demanding and transformative.
“There were a lot of stipulations and restrictions,” he said, “[but it forced me to] kind of sit still, to really reflect and not have to worry about certain aspects of life. I was kept on the straight and narrow, which I actually found really helpful.”
The structure, though rigid, offered him something he had not experienced in a long time: stability. Hobbs attributed his transformation and growth to the resources provided by the program. It allowed him to see what needed to be fixed in his life. With clear expectations and accountability built into each step, Hobbs leaned into the resources provided to him. He was not driven by fear and punishment but by a genuine desire to rebuild and transform his situation.
“The resources were there, but I didn’t know how to use them,” Hobbs said. “I didn’t know what life was supposed to look like or what it wasn’t supposed to look like. First-generation college student, no father, no real guidance. I was figuring it out on my own in college.”
The Resource Court was originally established by the Judge Samuel Ozburn, who had long witnessed the revolving door of individuals with untreated mental health conditions cycling through the criminal justice system. Determined to break the cyclical pattern, Ozburn helped launch the program that uses accountability and evidence-based treatment to rehabilitate individuals struggling with mental health and drug abuse in the community. This multidisciplinary court is specifically designed for individuals diagnosed with mental illness, providing them with structured support, treatment and accountability in lieu of incarceration. Participation is entirely voluntary. Those who choose to enroll must commit to a rigorous set of requirements, including regular treatment, supervision, curfews and even home visits and searches. In exchange, they are given the opportunity to avoid incarceration and work toward lasting recovery.
The success of the Newton and Walton County resource courts depends heavily on the work of dedicated coordinator Beth Smith, who brings a decade of experience to the program. In addition to working with participants on a day-to-day basis, she manages the grants that fund the court’s services. The largest source of funding comes from the Council of Accountability Court Judges of Georgia, with the counties contributing a required 25% match.
“Our goal is to reduce recidivism and show participants how to rebuild their lives and, in many cases, reconnect with and teach their families,” said Smith, who also ensures that the services promised to participants, such as therapy, supervision and job support, are actually delivered.
Today, the court continues under the leadership of the Judge Layla Zon. She described overseeing the Resource Court as one of the most rewarding parts of her job because she sees firsthand how the program transforms lives. It offers hope and healing instead of punishment. It was through this program that Hobbs received a formal diagnosis and began treatment with prescribed medication and therapy, marking the beginning of a new chapter in his journey. From the start, he took steps to confront the challenges that led him to court.
“He began addressing the issues through therapy and self-reflection,” Zon said. “The program provides resources that help individuals understand what brought them here in the first place. Jay was always hardworking. When he first entered the program, he walked miles every day to get to work. Throughout the program, he kept steady employment, got a bicycle and eventually a car.
“Jay was one of the easier cases because of his pleasant demeanor,” she added. “He’s the kind of guy who stays behind to clean up after serving others. Jay is just one example of many who come in broken and defeated but leave the program with a renewed sense of purpose and success. You can restore someone back to life with the proper resources.”
Georgia is now recognized as a national leader in Accountability Courts, as its programs undergo regular peer review to ensure continued effectiveness. These courts continue to lead the nation in providing comprehensive care and second chances to individuals facing mental health and substance use challenges. Now 29, Hobbs frequently returns to support the program that once supported him. He serves as a mentor and example of what is possible.
“For someone like me to graduate and then come back to speak to newer participants, I think that really helps,” he said. “I try to go back to court when I can, not all the time but enough to be present and to encourage the people who are just starting. I know what it feels like to be in their shoes.”
Hobbs’ words and actions serve as testaments to how far he has come and how deeply he values the second chance he was given.
“It’s easy to say yes when you’re in jail,” he said. “You want out. You want that little bit of freedom again. You’re not in prison, so it feels like a win, but when the rubber hits the road, that’s when it gets hard. The structure, the expectations, the accountability—it’s a lot.”
For more information on the Council of Accountability Court Judges of Georgia, visit cacj.georgia.gov.
Click here to read more stories by Wendy Rodriguez.
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