Middlesex Vicinage Recovery Court to Celebrate 29th Graduation

The Middlesex Vicinage will hold its 29th recovery court graduation on Monday, April 27 at 10 a.m. at the Middlesex County Courthouse in New Brunswick.

Criminal Presiding Judge Colleen Flynn will welcome the graduating class and give introductory remarks. Superior Court Judge Robert J. Jones, who presides over the vicinage’s recovery court, will officiate and speak about the long-term success of the program. James Lee Johansen, a certified peer recovery specialist, will give the keynote address. Members of the New Brunswick High School choir under the direction of Adam Herskowitz will perform the national anthem.

The Judiciary’s recovery court program operates within the Superior Court to address nonviolent drug addicted offenders. The program requires completion of several phases of intensive drug and alcohol treatment and recovery. Recovery court programs are rigorous, requiring intensive probation supervision, treatment, frequent drug testing, and regularly scheduled court appearances.

Since the vicinage’s recovery court program began in September 2004, more than 680 participants have graduated, and more than 35 children of participants have been born drug-free. There currently are more than 270 participants in the program.

Judges, managers, Judiciary staff, program participants, treatment providers, graduates’ families and friends have been invited to the ceremony. The ceremony will be held in the jury assembly room of the courthouse, 65 Bayard St., New Brunswick, and livestreamed to the public on the New Jersey Courts channels under Middlesex.