Finding a Way Forward: Terry's Story

When Terry first heard about the Smart Justice District Court Initiative (SJDCI), he was standing at a familiar crossroads. “I was in court,” he recalls. “It sounded good to me. I was really looking for anything to keep me out of jail.”

For Terry, jail had never been a place of growth or transformation—it was simply a holding pattern that stalled his life. “That’s just dead time spent in there,” he says. “I couldn’t do anything to move forward from inside there. I also never learned anything from the times I spent in jail.” So when SJDCI was offered as an alternative, he recognized something he had never truly been given before: a different path.

What motivated him to commit was both practical and deeply personal. Avoiding jail was a major factor, but more than that, Terry saw an opportunity for real change. “This was a great opportunity for something different,” he explains—and different is exactly what it turned out to be.

For Terry, SJDCI marked a shift from punishment to possibility.

“I definitely understood early on that people were fighting for me, not against me,” he says. That realization—of being supported rather than judged—made all the difference.

One of the most tangible outcomes of Terry’s time in the initiative has been the skills he gained, particularly with technology.

“I definitely learned a lot of computer skills,” he says, adding that he’s excited to continue building on them.

Beyond practical skills, Terry found encouragement in the consistent support of the court team and the spirit of the program itself. When asked if there was a single moment when he realized the initiative was truly invested in his success, he admits there wasn’t one defining instance. Instead, it was the steady, ongoing presence of people who believed in him. That quiet commitment showed him he wasn’t alone anymore.

Today, Terry speaks about SJDCI with genuine gratitude. “It’s a very positive experience and there’s nothing negative about it that I ever experienced.”

His growth hasn’t been limited to the courtroom or the classroom. Terry credits his church and his faith as central forces in his continued self-improvement.

“With my church and my relationship with God, I’m always trying to improve myself,” he shares. When asked what he’s most proud of in his life today, his answer comes without hesitation: “My God. His relationship with me. As far as achievements, I still have a lot in front of me to achieve. I do have goals, which is good.”

Looking ahead to the next six months, Terry has set meaningful and concrete goals. He wants to build a stronger support system—“better people to lean on,” as he puts it—and he’s determined to get his driver’s license reinstated. He believes the program has helped prepare him for these steps by providing structure, skills, and hope.

For Terry, SJDCI wasn’t just a way to stay out of jail. It was the beginning of a new chapter—one built on faith, growth, and the belief that change is not only possible, but worth fighting for.