County Drug Court Team Succeeds

COURT HOUSE –– Members of the Cape May/Atlantic Drug Court visited the June 11 meeting of the county Healthy Community Coalition to explain their unique program.
Drug courts began in New Jersey in 1996 with a pilot program that included the state’s two biggest cities of Newark and Camden and gradually expanded until the final phase in 2004 when Superior Court Vicinage I (Atlantic/Cape May counties) became involved.
“Drugs or alcohol are involved in 70 percent of criminal court cases and that’s on the low end,” local Drug Court Judge Michael Connor said. “Very few addicts support their addition from a trust fund. They are forced to steal and sell drugs to support their habits.”
According to Connor, the drug court program targets non-violent offenders that are dependent on drugs. The offenders are supervised and treated during a five-year probation period.
Since the program began, 252 defendants have been sentenced in the Cape May County drug court and the program currently has 156 active participants.
Two individuals have graduated from the county’s drug court and 23 are in the final phase of the program. There have been eight babies born to drug free mothers while they were participating in the program.
Ramona Howze, the vicinage criminal division manager who oversees drug court, said the Cape May program is one of the most successful in the state.
“The reason it’s so successful is because we have such a strong judge that believes in the system,” she said. “Because Judge Connor believes, he does what it takes to make the sometimes unconventional system work.”
Connor characterized the program as a team effort. He said he works in a round-table forum with prosecutors, defenders, probation officers, evaluators and treatment providers to determine the proper course of action for each individual drug case.
“I am proud to preside over the Cape May/Atlantic drug court,” Connor said. “We are a team who seeks to provide a venue and an opportunity for participants to succeed.”
Eligible participants are assessed for their dependence by substance evaluator Richard Kates who determines what type of treatment is appropriate – intensive outpatient, short-term inpatient (28 days), or long-term inpatient (6 months) – and sets up the clinical care. In addition to their prescribed treatment, participants must also attend regular 12-step meetings like Alcoholics Anonymous or Narcotics Anonymous.
The offenders are subject to stringent probation supervision that includes regular unscheduled drug tests.
Participants make regular visits to Connor’s courtroom where he doles out both praise and punishments.
Depending on their progress, he said he either compliments them or “knocks them on the side of the head with a two-by-four” – figuratively not literally.
“There are three rules in drug court – show up, be honest, and try,” Connor said.
Among the punishments the judge has available, were increased courtroom visits, increased supervision or even a short stay in the Cape May County Correctional Facility, which he called the “county bed and breakfast.”
Despite Connor’s discipline, most participants stay with the program. The retention rate for the vicinage drug court is nearly 66 percent.
In order to succeed, participants need honesty, open mindedness and willingness, Connor said.
“It’s like a three-legged stool,” the judge said. “If you don’t have all three legs, you’ll fall right on your butt.”
County Administrative Undersheriff Jack Reemmer called drug court day – Wednesdays in the county courthouse – the most “uplifting experience.”
“Criminal courts are usually depressing, but I see more smiles there on Wednesdays than any other day of the week,” he said.
Drug Court Coordinator and former probation officer Celeste Goodson – who in her busy position according to Connor has the rare ability to “herd cats” – expanded on that point saying that drug court not only changes the lives of the participants, but also those who work there.
“It feels good to have a positive effect on people’s lives,” she said.
Contact Hart at (609) 886-8600 Ext 35 or at: jhart@cmcherald.com