EPISODE 061926EPISODE 061926
Clean and Sober Radio
A Pennsylvania judge talks about addiction in his courtroom, why jail alone often fails, and how Second Chance Court and treatment programmes can offer real hope. The hosts and guest mix serious discussion on justice and stigma with personal stories, family humour, and a clear message that help and second chances are possible.
56:41•19 Jun 2026
Judge on the Bench, Heart for Recovery: Second Chances in Court
Episode Overview
- A judge can distinguish between people who are dealing or violent and those whose offences are driven by addiction, and respond differently.
- Second Chance Court and similar programmes connect people to treatment and structure, with the potential for charges to be dismissed when they complete requirements.
- Many in the justice system are starting to accept that incarceration on its own will not resolve substance use problems and that additional approaches are needed.
- Stigma still affects how people with addiction are treated, so consciously seeing each person as a family member rather than a stereotype changes decisions.
- There are no quick or easy routes into recovery, but practical resources and support do exist for those who are willing to seek help.
“Everybody should know that there are no drive-throughs. There are no delivery services to get into recovery. But what there is available are resources to assist you.”
What can we learn from those who have battled addiction? This instalment of Clean and Sober Radio brings together courtroom experience and recovery wisdom, making it ideal for anyone curious about how justice, treatment, and real life collide. Host Gary Hendler and co‑host Mark Sigmund sit down with long‑time friend of the show, Magisterial District Judge Christopher Maddox from Delaware County, Pennsylvania.
He talks frankly about the limits of locking people up, stressing that for many with substance use disorders, “jail is not the right place” and that addiction cases need to be handled differently from violent or dealing offences. Judge Maddox explains how Delaware County’s Second Chance Court steers people with addiction towards evaluations and structured programmes, where successful completion can lead to charges being dropped.
He shares moving moments from the bench, including people and families who later told him, “you saved my life” after a tough decision to hold someone in custody long enough to get help.
You’ll also hear discussion on changing drug trends, such as a rise in methamphetamine cases, the hope around a fentanyl vaccine, and how courts, police and treatment providers are slowly catching up to the reality that “something has to be done other than incarceration.” The team revisit the stigma that still surrounds addiction, and Judge Maddox describes how he aims to treat every person as if they were a family member, not “a druggier”.
Light moments about his enormous family, parenting, and even taking away a teenager’s phone add some humour to balance the heavier topics. If you’re in recovery, supporting someone who is, or just wondering how the justice system is changing its response to addiction, this conversation might leave you asking what a true “second chance” could look like in your own life.
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