ROBERTA NEE ADAMSStaff Writer

Tullahoma’s Sunrise Rotary recently recognized District 14 Public Defender John Nicoll as a Paul Harris Fellow, a distinguished honor among Rotarians. The recognition is most often given to Rotary Club members for their contributions to the Rotary Foundation. The Foundation finances projects worldwide that improve health, provide quality education, improve the environment, or alleviate poverty.

However, a club may recognize a community member who advances the ideals and causes of Rotary in an exemplary manner. In his years serving as Public Defender, Nicoll has determined that there are three main factors that contribute to criminal recidivism; those being lack of education, drug addiction and mental health issues,   and poverty.

To break the cycle of recidivism, Nicoll decided that the first two issues could be addressed and went to work. He involved the Literacy Council to bring adult education into the jail. There is now a room for classes and a library at the jail. In 2024, there were eleven inmates that received their General Education Development (GED) diplomas, the equivalent to a high school diploma.

In 2020, working with MTSU, Nicoll developed an internship for students studying to become social workers to work with inmates. He also obtained funding for one paid social worker. Since then, they have made 1,300 referrals to social services, and 550 drug treatment placements. The drug treatment completion rate now stands at 75%. In 2025, the state awarded the county a grant that allowed two more paid social workers to be hired.

While poverty is a societal issue, those inmates who receive a GED and/or successfully complete a drug treatment program are more likely to become productive members of the community and are less likely to re-offend. John Nicoll has gone well over and above his duties as Public Defender to make the community a safer and better place. By taking an active role in helping redirect those going down the wrong path, he has made a positive difference in their lives as well. His recognition is well deserved.