MORRIS COUNTY — New Jersey State Police Colonel Patrick J. Callahan, Morris County Prosecutor Robert J. Carroll, and Morris County Sheriff James M. Gannon joined other county and state officials in honoring 11 graduating Morris County Recovery Court program participants.
The Recovery Court graduation ceremony was held at the Morris County Public Safety Training Academy on May 23, 2023. Graduations are typically held twice a year.
The ceremony was presided over by Superior Court Judge Robert Hanna and Col. Callahan was a special guest speaker. Other addresses included Judge Stuart A. Minkowitz, Judge Michael E. Hubner, Prosecutor Carroll, Sheriff Gannon, Alumni Association President Charles Johnson, and Deputy Public Defender Susan McCoy.
Operating within the Superior Court, the Recovery Court program was established to offer non-violent drug offenders treatment instead of incarceration. Individuals undergo a rigorous program in five phases intensive probation supervision, frequent drug testing, and virtual court appearances. This level of supervision permits the program to support the recovery process but also allows supervisors to react quickly to impose appropriate therapeutic sanctions or to reinstate criminal proceedings when participants do not comply. Suppose the individuals complete the program and reach graduation. In that case, they pay their fines and restitution. They can apply to have certain convictions expunged, offering them an opportunity to re-enter society as a citizen without the stigma of such a conviction.
Previously named Drug Court, the program began in Camden and Essex counties in 1996 and expanded statewide in April 2002 when Morris and Sussex’s counties joined.
The Recovery Court program in Morris County has 95 participants.
