12th Circuit Intervention Court and graduates honor Judge Robert Helfrich

12th Circuit Intervention Court and graduates honor Judge Robert Helfrich

September 30, 2026

Forrest and Perry county residents who struggled to overcome drug addiction celebrated a milestone in their recovery journey, and honored the man who gave them a second chance.

Twenty-five people graduated on Sept. 28 from the Twelfth Circuit Intervention Court during a ceremony in Hattiesburg. The Court announced during the ceremony that the program is renamed the Robert “Bob” Helfrich Forrest & Perry Counties Intervention Court, in honor of the late Judge Helfrich, who start-ed the program in 2003.

Many of the participants who graduated took turns at the podium to thank God, drug court judges and staff, spouses, children and friends for their love, caring and support. They spoke of new lives with homes, families and jobs.

Some lovingly recalled Judge Helfrich and credited him for saving their lives. All were accepted into the program under Judge Helfrich’s watch. He believed in them when they didn’t believe in themselves, and led them on a journey toward living drug-free.

David Stepp of Petal said that a prosecutor wanted him to go to prison, but Helfrich argued loudly and forcefully to give him a chance. “He took a chance on me,” Stepp said. “Nobody else thought I was going to do it.”

From out in the audience, a small child exclaimed, “I love you, Daddy!” Willow Stepp, 4, ran up to hug him. As Stepp took his seat again with other graduates, the child made her way across the auditorium to sit with him. And when the podium was offered later to friends and family to speak, she hopped onto the stage and said, “I love my Daddy!” Stepp said later that he used to find excuses to use drugs. He now has powerful reasons not to.

Nema Kirk of Petal sat on the front row, too excited to sit still. When her grand-daughter walked across the stage as a graduate, Kirk threw up her hands in jubilation. She wiped tears of joy. “From the bottom of my heart, I’ve never been so proud of any-one in my life!” she exclaimed and hugged her granddaughter.

During the ceremony, before and after pictures of the graduates played side-by-side across two large screens. The first photos were of dejected faces with disheveled hair, many in jail issued scrubs. One man was photographed unconscious in a hospital bed. He had overdosed. The later pictures were a scrapbook of people enjoying their everyday lives, smiling with family and friends. Several were in college graduation caps and gowns.

Several previous graduates, from the early days of the program up through recent years, spoke of their years drug-free, their slips, their recovery and their gratitude. “I am so grateful to your dad for saving my life,” said a woman who has been drug-free for 20 years. She spoke to Judge Helfrich’s daughter, Courtney Helfrich of Jackson.

Judge Helfrich’s family attended the ceremony. In addition to his daughter Courtney, his sisters, Mary Lou McCoy and Janet Mashburn of Bolton and Kasey Jones of Hattiesburg, his brother Ray Helfrich of Meridian, and his niece Lori Collins of Collins attended. His beloved dog Blaze, who often accompanied Judge Helfrich to court, came in with Courtney Helfrich, accepted loving attention, then settled in at her feet.

Earlier drug court graduates are working to help those who struggle with addiction. Shay Smith of Petal is a social worker and peer support specialist with the drug court program. She took a break from helping set up for the ceremony and talked about using drugs from age 15. She had been in and out of jail since she was 18. After another arrest, she expected to go back to prison. Judge Helfrich “looked at me and told me that I could change.” He encouraged her at drug court appearances. He officiated at her wed-ding. She had her first child while in drug court – a daughter born drug-free. She now has three children. She completed training as a drug court peer support specialist in 2019 and graduated from drug court in 2020. She earned a degree in social work from the University of Southern Mississippi in 2024.

“From the moment I got clean, I knew that I wanted to help other people find freedom too,” Smith said. She founded Renters for Recovery, which operates Interlude House. She knows what it’s like to be homeless without a family, and to struggle. “I can use that to help other people. That’s the greatest thing to me in life.”

Circuit Judge T. Michael Reed said that 655 people have graduated from drug court in Forrest and Perry counties since Judge Helfrich formed the program in 2003. The program will mark 23 years on Oct. 3.

Judge Reed said, “This program was Judge Helfrich’s baby. It was like his child. This program breathed life not only into the participants, but Judge Helfrich himself.”

Supreme Court Chief Justice Mike Randolph of Hattiesburg told the crowd, “The state of Mississippi lost a great man.” He said, “I’m proud to be here today to honor Bob Helfrich. No person cared more for the individual person.”

Graduates presented Chief Justice Randolph with a canvas that each signed. It said, “With Gratitude. Thank you for sharing in this celebration and encouraging our graduates as they begin their next chapter. Robert ‘Bob’ Helfrich Forrest &Perry Counties Intervention Court.”

Drug Court Coordinator Lucy Davenport presented Courtney Helfrich with a proclamation adopted by the Mississippi Association of Drug Court Professionals on Aug. 20 honoring Judge Helfrich. The proclamation recognized his leadership of drug intervention courts on the state and national level, and expressed condolences to his family. It said, in part, “As an agent of change, his tireless work to motivate and improve the lives of people suffering with addictions and equality for all humanity was his passion.”

Courtney Helfrich said that her father’s face would light up when he talked about the drug court. She told program participants, “He was so proud of each and every one of you. Without a doubt, drug court was the highlight of his career. Thank you all for giving him the greatest gift of his life.”

She also repeated what her father used to tell her before she left the house. “Don’t do anything stupid.”

Circuit Judge Wes Curry closed the ceremony with another of Judge Helfrich’s sayings. “As Judge Helfrich was fond of saying, we are all climbing that mountain. Keep going forward. Don’t quit.”

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