NJ Launches New ‘Drug Court’ Program At 6 Sites, Including East Orange

EAST ORANGE, NJ — A newly launched program in New Jersey will use proceeds from a settlement with a company accused of falsely advertising opioids to help non-violent drug offenders overcome their addictions, state officials announced Tuesday.

The program – known as “Opt for Help and Hope” – will launch at six sites, including East Orange, according to the New Jersey Office of the Attorney General. They are:

• Central Municipal Court of Atlantic County (participating municipalities include Corbin City, Egg Harbor Township, Estell Manor, Galloway Township, Hamilton Township, Linwood, Northfield, Port Republic, Ventnor, and Weymouth Township)
• Pemberton Municipal Court
• East Orange Municipal Court
• Hamilton Township Municipal Court
• Paterson City Municipal Court
• Franklin Township Municipal Court

What is Opt for Help and Hope all about? Here’s what state prosecutors said about the program, which is being funded with proceeds from the attorney general’s settlement with a company allegedly involved in the false advertisement of opioid products:

“The goals of the program are to offer early intervention for defendants whose offenses are non-violent, to help establish additional pathways to recovery that saves lives, and to minimize the deleterious impact that arrests and convictions can have on the stability needed to sustain recovery. Throughout New Jersey, the existing Recovery Court Program (formerly known as the Drug Court Program) assists defendants in overcoming alcohol and other drug dependencies while resolving related criminal charges. The Recovery Court Program is focused on non-violent drug-related cases in Superior Court, which generally handles more serious criminal charges. By expanding the addiction support services available to municipal court, Opt for Help and Hope will assist individuals experiencing substance use disorder before their drug-related conduct escalates to the kind of more serious criminal conduct that is prosecuted in Superior Court. Opt for Help and Hope is the first statewide initiative focused on offering support services for substance use disorder to municipal court defendants.”

Here’s how it will work, authorities said:

“Each participating county prosecutor's office must set up a program that screens potential participants at the time of arrest or at any point in the court process. After agreeing to enter the program and completing paperwork, participants are given a peer recovery coach who will arrange for the person to be assessed for services, including treatment at a community-based treatment provider and recovery support, and transportation to appointments. At the time of the person’s court appearance, the prosecutor overseeing the case will determine if the person has ‘meaningfully engaged’ in recommended services. If the person has shown engagement, the prosecutor may move to dismiss or downgrade the charges. If not, the prosecutor may request an adjournment to give the person more time to participate in services. If a person declines participation in the program, they can still connect with the services but will not have the benefit of getting their charges dismissed or downgraded.”

The county prosecutor with jurisdiction over the six participating municipal court systems will act as recipients for the grant funds and implement Opt for Help and Hope in the six selected municipal courts. The county prosecutor’s offices in Atlantic, Burlington, Essex, Mercer, Passaic and Somerset counties will split the funding equally and receive $333,333 in base funding.

• See related article: NJ 'Drug Court' Helps Hundreds Turn Lives Around, Avoid Jail

While only six sites have been selected for the initial pilot, the program could be expanded to additional locations at a later date, the attorney general’s office said.

“Non-violent individuals suffering from addiction deserve treatment and a chance to live healthy lives, rather than criminal prosecution,” Attorney General Matthew Platkin said.

“This new program will provide people with the resources they need to maintain a healthy lifestyle, and in turn, alleviate the volume of criminal cases that come to municipal courts,” Platkin said. “I am confident that this initiative will positively impact our fight in breaking the vicious cycle of crime and addiction.”

“As the coordinator for addiction fighting efforts under the Department of Law and Public Safety, NJ CARES is thrilled to oversee this innovative and hopefully life-changing initiative,” acting director Kelly Levy said.

“Opt for Help and Hope will be another tool law enforcement has to target individuals with addiction issues in an attempt to connect them to services,” Levy added.

The launch of the new program is a milestone for New Jersey, prosecutors said:

“Through its investigations and lawsuits against companies involved in misconduct relating to the manufacture, distribution, dispensation, and advertising of opioid drug products, the Office of the Attorney General has secured hundreds of millions of dollars to help combat the ongoing opioid epidemic in New Jersey. Opt for Help and Hope is one of the first programs to be funded with those settlement funds. The funding for the pilot program is for a 24-month period from March 1, 2023 through February 28, 2025. The grant opportunity and application are posted to OAG Grants.”

The funds will be put to good use in East Orange, Acting Essex County Prosecutor Theodore Stephens II said.

“As a former municipal court judge, I am keenly aware that local courts, especially a court with the volume of East Orange, contend with the criminal ramifications of addictions on a regular basis, and they can greatly benefit from programs that address this very issue,” Stephens said.

“Therefore, the Essex County Prosecutor’s Office wholeheartedly supports this new program, which will offer a lifeline to individuals in the thrall of addiction while helping to safeguard the public at large,” Stephens added.

• See related article: Essex County Courts To Celebrate 18 People Who Rose Above Addiction

Send local news tips and correction requests to eric.kiefer@patch.com. Learn more about advertising on Patch here. Find out how to post announcements or events to your local Patch site.