Atlantic/Cape May Drug Court Holds Graduation Ceremonies

COURT HOUSE – The Superior Court of New Jersey, Atlantic/Cape May Vicinage, will conduct drug court graduation ceremonies Nov. 19 and Nov. 20.
The Atlantic County ceremony will be held on Nov. 19 at 1 p.m. in the jury assembly room on the first floor of the Atlantic County Criminal Courts Building, 4997 Unami Blvd., Mays Landing. Eleven participants will graduate from the 5-year program, and three participants will commence to the final phase of the program. A recovering substance abuser will be the keynote speaker.
The Cape May ceremony will be held Nov. 20 at 11 a.m. in courtroom C of the Cape May County Courthouse, 9 North Main St., Cape May Court House. Three will graduate from the program and two will commence into the final phase. Michael DeLeon from the Steered Straight Program will be the keynote speaker
Superior Court Judge Michael R. Connor, on recall, will preside over the events. Assignment Judge Julio L. Mendez and Trial Court Administrator Howard H. Berchtold Jr. will offer comments at both ceremonies.
The drug court program is a highly specialized team process within the existing Superior Court structure that addresses nonviolent drug-related cases. Drug courts are unique in the criminal justice environment because they build a close collaborative relationship between criminal justice and drug treatment professionals.
Drug courts programs are rigorous, requiring completion of four phases during five years of intensive drug and alcohol treatment and testing. Participants follow a tightly structured regimen of treatment and recovery. This level of supervision permits the program to support the recovery process, but also allows supervisors to react swiftly to impose appropriate therapeutic sanctions or to reinstate criminal proceedings when participants do not comply with the program.
For additional information regarding drug court or the graduation ceremonies, contact program coordinator Celeste Goodson at 609-909-8113.