38° and Partly Cloudy
11 Graduates Mark Milestone at Morris County Recovery Court Ceremony
In a ceremony filled with pride and promise, New Jersey State Police Colonel Patrick J. Callahan, Morris County Prosecutor Robert J. Carroll, and Morris County Sheriff James M. Gannon, along with other county and state officials, celebrated the graduation of 11 participants from the Morris County Recovery Court program on May 23, 2023. This key event underscores the county's commitment to aiding non-violent drug offenders in their journey toward rehabilitation and societal reintegration.
Held at the Morris County Public Safety Training Academy, the graduation ceremony was presided over by Superior Court Judge Robert Hanna, with Colonel Callahan gracing the event as a special guest speaker. A variety of influential figures in Morris County law enforcement and judiciary, including Judge Stuart A. Minkowitz, Judge Michael E. Hubner, Prosecutor Carroll, Sheriff Gannon, Alumni Association President Charles Johnson, and Deputy Public Defender Susan McCoy, were also on hand to express their support and share their insights.
The Recovery Court program, functioning within the Superior Court, provides an alternative approach to traditional punitive measures, offering treatment and rehabilitation instead of incarceration for non-violent drug offenders. Participants endure an intensive five-phase program that includes rigorous probation supervision, frequent drug testing, and virtual court appearances. This high level of supervision aids in the recovery process and allows for quick responses when individuals fail to comply. On successful completion of the program, participants can pay their fines and restitution and may apply to expunge certain convictions, allowing them to step back into a society free of the conviction's stigma.
Established initially as the Drug Court in Camden and Essex counties in 1996, the program expanded statewide in April 2002, with Morris and Sussex counties joining the endeavor. Currently, the Morris County Recovery Court program is assisting 95 participants in their journey toward a drug-free life and societal reintegration.
Today's ceremony serves not only as a celebration of individual victories over addiction but also as a testament to Morris County's sustained commitment to recovery and rehabilitation. Through programs like the Recovery Court, the county continues to champion the cause of turning lives around, one graduate at a time.
