Essex Vicinage to Hold Recovery Court Graduation

The Essex Vicinage will hold its recovery court graduation ceremony Wednesday, Dec. 13 at 11 a.m. in the 14th floor conference room of the Leroy Smith Building, 60 Nelson Place, Newark, Assignment Judge Sheila Venable announced today.

This event will honor 12 participants who have maintained recovery from drugs and alcohol. All the graduates completed the program early.  

Superior Court Judge Thomas A. Callahan, the vicinage’s recovery court judge, will preside.  Graduates will share their experiences of strength and hope.  Sally Milad, the Judiciary’s statewide gun violence reduction manager and a former Essex probation officer, will give the keynote address.  Jamie Al., a recovery court graduate, will share a message of hope.   

The day will mark the graduates’ accomplishments and will recognize the beginning of their journeys. Families, friends, and loved ones will be present to support the graduates. Current recovery court participants also will attend.  

The Judiciary’s recovery court program operates within the Superior Court to address non-violent drug addicted offenders. The program requires completion of several phases of intensive drug and alcohol treatment and recovery. This level of supervision permits the program to support the recovery process but also allows the recovery court team to react quickly to impose appropriate therapeutic sanctions or to reinstate criminal proceedings when participants do not comply.

The vicinage’s recovery court program has more than 240 participants. Recovery court participants are expected to comply with all treatment recommendations, attend support meetings, gain employment, and demonstrate payment of fines.