Author: ECCYC

Some preschoolers in NJ must still wear face masks – NorthJersey.com

Some of New Jersey’s youngest children are still mandated to wear face masks while in preschool classes.

Many children under the age of 5 who attend the federally run Head Start program  and preschoolers in the South Orange-Maplewood School District and the Maplewood YMCA must continue to wear masks indoors, even as temperatures continue to rise. 

Maya Ziobro said she finds her 3-year-old daughter, who attends a public preschool in the South Orange-Maplewood district, with a red and flushed face from wearing a mask when she picks her up on hot afternoons. The very young children don’t always wear masks correctly, and her daughter’s is often below her nose, Ziobro said about their effectiveness.

“She’s confused and keeps it on outside a lot of the time because she does not want to get into trouble,” said Ziobro.

While the district lifted the mask mandate for its older students along with most state schools in spring, it retained the mandate for its preschool students. The decision created strife among parents, many of whom voted against masking their preschool-aged children in a school survey. Last week they received a letter from the district informing them the mandate would remain in place until June 24, the end of the school year.

Pre-K4 students at Washington Irving Elementary School #4 now have the option to wear a mask or not at school in Garfield, N.J. on Monday March 7, 2022.

The district said it sent the letter to bring “closure” to the issue, which has dominated recent school board meetings and divided parents. The letter went out a day after New York City, the country’s largest public school district, lifted its mask mandate. 

Gov. Phil Murphy ended the COVID-19 public health emergency on Feb. 7 as infections from the omicron variant of the coronavirus began to decline. He lifted the school mask mandate on March 7, leaving individual school districts to make masks optional or compulsory depending on COVID levels in the community.

Related: Gov. Murphy drops last NJ mask mandate as federal rules are extended

A number of North Jersey Head Start preschools, including Wayne and Ringwood, also still mandate masks. When contacted by phone on Tuesday, the schools confirmed their programs require preschoolers to wear masks while indoors.

The Head Start preschools geared toward low-income families, also mandate unvaccinated teachers to wear masks indoors and in school vehicles.

A Head Start spokesperson said the federal program recommends that its preschool students and teachers wear masks to diminish the spread of the virus, but ultimately it is up to the independently run centers.  The executive director of North Jersey’s Head Start program at the Center for Family Resources did not respond to an email asking about its policy at the time of writing. 

High COVID activity levels in Essex County and toddlers’ ineligibility for vaccinations drove the South Orange-Maplewood School District’s decision, stated the letter to parents. Children ages 2-5 are not yet eligible for COVID-19 vaccinations.

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Monmouth County, followed by Bergen and Essex counties had the highest daily case numbers for June 13 according to the state COVID dashboard. 

Federal approval for vaccines for children below the age of 5 is expected this week. In the meantime, New Jersey has pre-ordered 51,000 doses of the vaccine for that age group.

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There have been no deaths reported in children ages 2 to 5 in New Jersey from COVID-19 since December 2021. Two children in that age group died from the virus or related causes in 2020, out of 45,223 confirmed cases since the onset of the pandemic. There have been 17 pediatric deaths in New Jersey from the coronavirus, according to a spokesperson from the state Department of Health.

For all these reasons, South Orange-Maplewood schools’ decision to keep toddlers masked makes the district an outlier in New Jersey. Most of the state’s 599 districts adopted mask-optional policies after the mask mandate ended in early March.

Ziobro said the masks cause a number of issues for her daughter. She has “potty accidents” from not being able to communicate clearly with her teacher in a mask.

“She’s lucky she doesn’t have a speech delay,” said Ziobro. “I know a lot of her peers are struggling in that department. You’re 3, I cannot imagine that [masking] does not have some sort of effect on this age group.”

South Orange-Maplewood’s mandate was in place outdoors and in playgrounds until March, said Ziobro.

In Garfield, on the other hand, school district officials said they are glad they lifted the mandate in spring, as it was a positive move for its preschool students. Socially and academically, the children have done well since the mandate was lifted, said Jeff Wilson, principal of Washington Irving School #4.

“Overall, giving parents the choice has been very successful for our school,” Wilson said. “In our Pre-K classes, the most positive impact has been on students’ and teachers’ ability to communicate,” he said via email.

Students learn sounds not only by listening, but by watching their teachers form letter sounds. Wilson said he’s seen an improvement in social interaction too, which was hindered by masks.

Teachers spent a lot of time “helping replace soiled masks and helping [the children] clean themselves,” which takes away from the curriculum, and could place teachers in closer contact to germs, he said.

The South Orange-Maplewood District Board of Education surveyed parents of preschoolers in April. Only 122 families responded, less than half of the total preschool population, said Superintendent Ronald Taylor. Of those, 60% favored optional masking, while 35% favored a mask mandate and 5% were unsure.

Students at Washington Irving Elementary School #4 now have the option to wear a mask or not at school in Garfield, N.J. on Monday March 7, 2022.

“As we stated in our communication, we knew that some in our community would be disappointed and that is of course never our goal. As you can imagine we have also heard from parents who are relieved that this mitigation will still be in place for the last few days of the school year,” Taylor said in an email. He said the district’s health department supported the mandate.

Stacey Saenz, a post-doctoral student in public health in SUNY Downstate has a 2-year-old son who is not yet enrolled in the preschool. She supports keeping the preschool mask mandate until a vaccine is available for the age group.

“I just don’t see the issue with waiting until that is available for them.” She said she agrees that COVID does not make young children severely ill, but does not support exposing a single vulnerable child to the illness nonetheless. “Intubating a toddler seems much more uncomfortable than masking them.”

“We’re not anti-maskers or anti-vaxxers. We just want to have the choice for our kids. We don’t see the point of these restrictions continuing at this stage,” said Ziobro, who is vaccinated.

The American Academy of Pediatrics and the CDC recommend that anyone 2 and older wear face masks outside their home when community transmission levels are high. Schools may, however, remove prevention methods, which include masks, one at a time when transmission levels are decreasing, the CDC said in its latest guidance updated on May 27. The World Health Organization does not recommend masking children under 5. 

Infections with the omicron variant were usually less severe in infants and toddlers, according to a brief published by the PolicyLab at the Philadelphia Children’s Hospital in January. The lab has said that it is “reasonable” to make masks optional in early childhood care settings. “Transmission risk I think is comparable among all children, whether vaccinated or not,” said the lab’s director and pediatrician, Dr. David Rubin. “We should be encouraging vaccination because of the likelihood of reducing severe disease,” he said. 

A school-wide mask mandate remains in place in neighboring Newark, whose 41,000 students are mostly urban and low-income. With 77% qualifying for free and reduced lunch, Newark’s student population fits a different profile from most of suburban South Orange-Maplewood’s 294 toddlers.

Paterson and East Orange school districts, both mostly low-income and urban centers, lifted their mask mandates in early May. COVID-19 has had a disproportionately severe impact on low-income communities of color, studies have shown.

Some state school districts, including Montclair and South Orange-Maplewood temporarily reinstated mask mandates in May and June when COVID infections began to spike from a variant of Omicron. Despite those surging infections, severe illness and death are relatively low in New Jersey, where 76% of residents are fully vaccinated.

Mary Ann Koruth covers education for NorthJersey.com. To get unlimited access to the latest news about New Jersey’s schools and how it affects your children, please subscribe or activate your digital account today.

Email: koruthm@northjersey.com

Twitter: @MaryAnnKoruth

Toms River Mayor and governing body institute overnight curfew for minors – wobm.com

It’s been somewhat of an inauspicious beginning to the early summer season along the North End and Ortley Beach sections of Toms River with juveniles becoming engaged in rowdy and unruly behavior dating back to Memorial Day weekend of this year.

The residents have had enough.

This was a topic Toms River Police Chief Mitch Little discussed recently on the air as well as a guest on ‘Shore Time with Vin and Dave’ on May 29 on 94.3 The Point and 105.7 The Hawk with regards to residents complaints on the unruly behavior in this section of town.

“We have people that come down and rent with their young kids and families and the goal is to have a nice house to stay in and walk to the beach and enjoy their day at the beach and then we have other people that come in and want to be rowdy all night long until 2:00-3:00 in the morning,” Chief Little previously told Townsquare Media.

Chief Little later continued by adding, “we do have a little bit of a problem on the north end with the Wawa where people hang out, normally, longer than they should and we get a lot of complaints up there, so we’re constantly up there trying to get rid of people who are loitering and hanging out making all kinds of noise and things like that. Everybody wants us to put a curfew in.”

As a result of the unruly behavior in this part of town over the last couple of summers, there’s been additional Toms River Police Officers patrolling the area.

“Normally, we have a certain amount of patrols. It changes in the winter, so we go down to minimums, so we have a police car at each end of the beach, we have a North End officer and a south end Ortley officer but in the summer time we definitely pad that, we add more officers, we have Class I Officers, we have, basically, we call it a power squad where we put other officers on the beach, we have quads, we have bicycle patrols, obviously roving patrols with police cars and then we’re putting on this power squad to deal with these kinds of issues to give everybody a good quality of life.”

On Tuesday, Toms River Mayor Maurice “Mo” Hill and his administration announced that a similar curfew that was in effect the last couple of summers will be reinstituted for the summer of 2022, under Governor Murphy’s Executive Order No. 103, the township said.

The main difference is that it will now include the Ortley Beach section of the township.

From now until September 30, anyone 17-years-old and younger is not allowed to be outdoors unless unaccompanied by a parent or guardian in the North Beach and Ortley Beach sections between the hours of 11:00 pm and 5:00 am.

Ortley Beach Water Tower (Townsquare Media)


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There are obvious exceptions to the curfew such as medical emergencies, or in the case of traveling to and from a job, religious or educational functions, or a private gathering.

This curfew will also provide an exception for minors to run errands or if they have legitimate business to do, if instructed by a parent or guardian.

If someone is found to be in violation of this curfew, they’ll be subject to being charged with a disorderly person’s offense and penalties in Toms River Municipal Court.

“The curfews worked well in 2020 and 2021,” Mayor Hill said in a written statement. “We had few if any disturbances during those seasons and we do not want a repeat of what happened during the Memorial Day weekend this year. With the threat of “pop-up” parties being promoted on social media, we need to give our Police Officers the authority to maintain the peace in our family friendly beach communities.”

Toms River Police Chief Mitch Little who also serves as the Toms River Emergency Management Coordinator, signed the proclamation.

“The goal and focus of this curfew is not to target children enjoying their time at the shore, but rather to address the destructive behavior we have experienced on both public and private property with large groups of juveniles. It is our responsibility to preserve the quality of life in our beach communities for everyone, “ Chief Little said in a written statement.

The beach in the Ortley Beach section of Toms River. (Vin Ebenau, Townsquare Media NJ)


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Essex County Courts To Celebrate 18 People Who Rose Above Addiction – patch.com

ESSEX COUNTY, NJ — The Essex County court system is preparing to give a hearty congratulations to 18 people who have “maintained recovery from drugs and alcohol” after brushes with the justice system.

On Wednesday, the Essex Vicinage will hold a recovery court graduation ceremony at 10 a.m. It can be watched online here.

According to New Jersey court officials, the event in Essex County – the program’s fifth virtual ceremony – will honor 18 participants who have maintained recovery from drugs and alcohol. Read More: NJ ‘Drug Court’ Helps Hundreds Turn Lives Around, Avoid Jail

Gerard “Jersey Jerry” Gilfone, the host of a popular sober podcast, will give the keynote address. Superior Court Judge John Gizzo, the vicinage’s recovery court judge, will preside over the ceremony, which will include stories of graduates who want to “share their experiences of strength and hope,” officials said.

“The day not only acknowledges the graduates’ accomplishments, but also recognizes the beginning of their journey,” court administrators said, adding that families, friends and loved ones will be able to support their graduate virtually. Current recovery court participants will participate virtually.

Court administrators offered some background on the program:

“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. 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 305 participants. Recovery court participants are expected to comply with all treatment recommendations, attend support meetings, gain employment, and demonstrate payment of fines, court officials said.

Untrained, Armed, Fake ‘Cops’ Abuse Power In NJ: This Bill Would Eliminate Them – Patch

NEW JERSEY — Police exchanged gunfire with two suspects following the 2019 mass shooting that targeted a kosher market in Jersey City. As sworn law enforcement locked down the neighborhood and engaged in a highly organized response, an untrained volunteer showed up uninvited and drew his gun.

It was the Essex County constable, who later testified to the New Jersey Commission of Investigation that he never received any guidance or oversight for the position — let alone any professional preparation for aiding police during the attack that left six dead, including three civilians, a police officer and both assailants.

All too often, constables around New Jersey misrepresent themselves as sworn law enforcement, engage in police activities beyond their narrow authority and abuse the position for personal profit, according to a December report from the state Commission of Investigation. The volunteers — often untrained, sometimes armed and largely unsupervised — insert themselves into policing matters in ways that can escalate danger, the report states.

The commission recommended that cities and towns eliminate the position of constable, and state law-enforcement leaders agree. Efforts to eliminate constables have gained momentum in the State Legislature.

“These findings underscore the point that constables are outdated relics that have no place in the highly organized and sophisticated system of modern law enforcement,” the report states. “Rather than serving as a beneficial adjunct to police, the role instead far too frequently represents a potential hazard to the constables themselves, the police they claim to want to help and the public at large.”

The use of constables predates the development of modern police departments by centuries. The British imported the system of law enforcement to the United States colonies in the 1600s. In New Jersey, constables served as law enforcers before modern police agencies took root in the mid-1800s.

Modern, organized policing has made constables obsolete, and the lack of oversight into the position gives them far more potential to harm than help the public, according to New Jersey law-enforcement leadership. Cities and towns can still appoint constables. The state investigation commission surveyed more than half of New Jersey’s cities and towns, identifying 136 constables in seven counties. But investigators believe the actual number of constables in New Jersey is likely higher.

A Democratic-sponsored State Senate bill that would eliminate the position of constable received unanimous approval May 19 from the Senate Law and Public Safety Committee. Additionally, Assistant Minority Leader Ron Dancer (R-12) sponsored an identical measure in the State Assembly — indicating at least some support from both Democratic and Republican lawmakers in the state.

“Constables are regularly accused of misrepresenting themselves as certified law enforcement officers,” said State Senator Gordon Johnson (D-37), who sponsored the Senate bill. “This misrepresentation is extremely harmful because it often results in their engagement in matters beyond their authority and can degrade the trust between true law enforcement and the community.”

Constables throughout New Jersey often portray themselves as law enforcement through their appearance and actions, according to the state report. They often wear self-purchased regalia that resembles that of police. Some use walkie-talkies to communicate with fellow members and etch law-enforcement mottos such as “Protect and Serve” on their vehicles, the state commission says.

The state’s report noted several incidents in which they say constables around the state have abused their authority. They include a constable who faced criminal charges for impersonating an officer after a dispute with a taxi driver in Newark. The constable pulled the driver over and demanded he show his motor-vehicle credentials, according to the state investigation commission.

Another sought a constable appointment in Union Township in 1989, because he thought the badge that came with it would make it easier to do his job serving legal papers, the report says. The man testified that wearing a badge commands a certain level of respect that helped him deliver documents, according to the state investigation.

Some cities and towns have found constables who perform useful duties, such as installing child car seats and locking up local parks at night. But the state investigation commission says municipalities could just as easily arrange for a part-time employee to complete the same tasks.

The County Prosecutors Association of New Jersey, the State Association of Chiefs of Police and the State Policeman’s Benevolent Association also believe the position is obsolete.

“To end these ongoing abuses and resolve the uncertainties inherent in the position, we urge the repeal of the statutes that enable untrained and unsupervised individuals to receive municipal appointments as constables,” said Chief John Zebrowski, president of the state police chiefs association. “Immediate action in this area is particularly critical at this time as legitimate law enforcement works to strengthen its relationship with the communities we serve. These incidents of highly questionable conduct by constables only serve to undermine those efforts.”

Read the state’s full report on constables here.

Child Care Bills Advance In NJ Senate; Tax Credits, Subsidies Proposed – Newark, NJ Patch

NEW JERSEY — Several bills that aim to make child care cheaper and more accessible in New Jersey recently advanced in the state Legislature.

Last week, the Senate Health, Human Services and Senior Citizens Committee unanimously advanced legislation sponsored by Senate Majority Leader M. Teresa Ruiz and Senator Joe Vitale.

The bills, which supporters say will assist parents, providers and employees, are part of a larger package that Ruiz unveiled earlier this year. Read More: Sweeping NJ Bill Package Would Make Child Care More Affordable

Ruiz and Vitale, both Democrats, released the following details about each of the proposed laws:

  • S.1099 – “The bill allows a gross income tax credit for child care staff members who have been employed by the same provider for a continuous six-month period during the taxable year.”
  • S.2476 – “The bill would provide funding for the expansion of infant and toddler seats by 1,000, reimbursed at $22,000 per spot. The grant program would prioritize providers in communities identified as child care deserts, areas with high percentage low-income families, as well as those that align their child care center with high quality preschool.”
  • S.2478 – “The bill would extend the enrollment-based payment model currently set to expire on June 30, 2022. The bill would extend the program for three years, with a report on the impact at the end of this year and the end of the three years.”
  • S.2480 – “The bill would extend child care subsidies to families earning up to 300% of the federal poverty line. Currently, families earning up to 250% FPL are eligible.”

Ruiz, who represents the state’s 29th district, said the bills wouldn’t only benefit parents and children – they’d also be good for the entire state.

“Access to affordable, high-quality child care improves outcomes and pays dividends, every dollar invested offers a $4 to $9 return in individual and community benefits,” Ruiz said. “As we face worker shortages across industries, reducing the cost of child care will allow more parents to return to the workforce at a time when we need it most.”

Vitale said that “high-quality and affordable child care” should be accessible to every family in the state.

“These bills will help provide that accessibility by expanding the state’s child care subsidy program to reach more families in need, while also increasing the number of spots available for infants and toddlers,” said Vitale, who represents the state’s 19th district.

“Additionally, by providing tax credits for staff members we can help our child care providers retain the employees they need to ensure a sustainable, high-quality workforce,” the senator added.

Essex County Man Sentenced in Killing of his Child’s Mother – UCNJ.org

Tyler Rios

An East Orange man, who previously admitted to killing his estranged girlfriend was sentenced to 30 years in State Prison on Friday, Union County Prosecutor William A. Daniel announced today.

Union County Superior Court Judge John Deitch imposed the term on 28-year-old Tyler Rios, handing down a 25-year sentence on his aggravated manslaughter conviction and a 5-year consecutive sentence for desecrating human remains.  Rios must serve at least 85% of the 25-year term on the aggravated manslaughter before the possibility of parole on that count, then must serve the additional 5-year term before being eligible for release Judge Deitch ruled.

The July, 2021 incident that resulted in a widely broadcasted Amber Alert launched a multi-state investigation which led to the recovery of the child and the discovery of Uyar’s body in Tennessee.

An investigation led by the Union County Prosecutor’s Office – and assisted by members of the FBI’s Newark Field Office and satellite offices, the New Jersey State Police, and the Rahway Police Department – led to Rios being identified as the suspect in the case after their son Sebastian Rios did not show up for daycare on July 9th and Uyar did not arrive for scheduled work shifts, according to Union County Assistant Prosecutor Robert Grady, who prosecuted the case. A welfare check was conducted on Uyar’s home by members of the Rahway Police Department, but no one was found inside, Grady said.

Shortly thereafter, the State Police issued an Amber Alert that was sent to privately owned cell phones, broadcast on electronic billboards along highways in New Jersey and beyond, and widely shared via social media.

Through the persistent efforts of the Union County Prosecutor’s Office and the above agencies — as well as a result of the extraordinary assistance from the Putnam County Tennessee Sheriff’s Office and the FBI’s Memphis Field Office and satellite offices – Sebastian Rios was found unharmed in Monterey, Tennessee on July 10th, when Tyler Rios was taken into custody. Later in the day, investigators located Uyar’s body in a wooded area nearby, off of Interstate I-40.

An autopsy performed on Uyar revealed that her death resulted from strangulation and blunt force trauma.  The investigation subsequently revealed that, on July 8th, Rios killed Uyar in her Rahway home before placing her in the trunk of her car, then taking their son and fleeing to Tennessee.

Child Care Bills Advance In NJ Senate; Tax Credits, Subsidies Proposed – Patch

NEW JERSEY — Several bills that aim to make child care cheaper and more accessible in New Jersey recently advanced in the state Legislature.

Last week, the Senate Health, Human Services and Senior Citizens Committee unanimously advanced legislation sponsored by Senate Majority Leader M. Teresa Ruiz and Senator Joe Vitale.

The bills, which supporters say will assist parents, providers and employees, are part of a larger package that Ruiz unveiled earlier this year. Read More: Sweeping NJ Bill Package Would Make Child Care More Affordable

Ruiz and Vitale, both Democrats, released the following details about each of the proposed laws:

  • S.1099 – “The bill allows a gross income tax credit for child care staff members who have been employed by the same provider for a continuous six-month period during the taxable year.”
  • S.2476 – “The bill would provide funding for the expansion of infant and toddler seats by 1,000, reimbursed at $22,000 per spot. The grant program would prioritize providers in communities identified as child care deserts, areas with high percentage low-income families, as well as those that align their child care center with high quality preschool.”
  • S.2478 – “The bill would extend the enrollment-based payment model currently set to expire on June 30, 2022. The bill would extend the program for three years, with a report on the impact at the end of this year and the end of the three years.”
  • S.2480 – “The bill would extend child care subsidies to families earning up to 300% of the federal poverty line. Currently, families earning up to 250% FPL are eligible.”

Ruiz, who represents the state’s 29th district, said the bills wouldn’t only benefit parents and children – they’d also be good for the entire state.

“Access to affordable, high-quality child care improves outcomes and pays dividends, every dollar invested offers a $4 to $9 return in individual and community benefits,” Ruiz said. “As we face worker shortages across industries, reducing the cost of child care will allow more parents to return to the workforce at a time when we need it most.”

Vitale said that “high-quality and affordable child care” should be accessible to every family in the state.

“These bills will help provide that accessibility by expanding the state’s child care subsidy program to reach more families in need, while also increasing the number of spots available for infants and toddlers,” said Vitale, who represents the state’s 19th district.

“Additionally, by providing tax credits for staff members we can help our child care providers retain the employees they need to ensure a sustainable, high-quality workforce,” the senator added.

Essex County Courts To Celebrate 18 People Who Rose Above Addiction – Patch

ESSEX COUNTY, NJ — The Essex County court system is preparing to give a hearty congratulations to 18 people who have “maintained recovery from drugs and alcohol” after brushes with the justice system.

On Wednesday, the Essex Vicinage will hold a recovery court graduation ceremony at 10 a.m. It can be watched online here.

According to New Jersey court officials, the event in Essex County – the program’s fifth virtual ceremony – will honor 18 participants who have maintained recovery from drugs and alcohol. Read More: NJ ‘Drug Court’ Helps Hundreds Turn Lives Around, Avoid Jail

Gerard “Jersey Jerry” Gilfone, the host of a popular sober podcast, will give the keynote address. Superior Court Judge John Gizzo, the vicinage’s recovery court judge, will preside over the ceremony, which will include stories of graduates who want to “share their experiences of strength and hope,” officials said.

“The day not only acknowledges the graduates’ accomplishments, but also recognizes the beginning of their journey,” court administrators said, adding that families, friends and loved ones will be able to support their graduate virtually. Current recovery court participants will participate virtually.

Court administrators offered some background on the program:

“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. 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 305 participants. Recovery court participants are expected to comply with all treatment recommendations, attend support meetings, gain employment, and demonstrate payment of fines, court officials said.

Essex County Courts To Celebrate 18 People Who Rose Above Addiction – Montclair, NJ Patch

ESSEX COUNTY, NJ — The Essex County court system is preparing to give a hearty congratulations to 18 people who have “maintained recovery from drugs and alcohol” after brushes with the justice system.

On Wednesday, the Essex Vicinage will hold a recovery court graduation ceremony at 10 a.m. It can be watched online here.

According to New Jersey court officials, the event in Essex County – the program’s fifth virtual ceremony – will honor 18 participants who have maintained recovery from drugs and alcohol. Read More: NJ ‘Drug Court’ Helps Hundreds Turn Lives Around, Avoid Jail

Gerard “Jersey Jerry” Gilfone, the host of a popular sober podcast, will give the keynote address. Superior Court Judge John Gizzo, the vicinage’s recovery court judge, will preside over the ceremony, which will include stories of graduates who want to “share their experiences of strength and hope,” officials said.

“The day not only acknowledges the graduates’ accomplishments, but also recognizes the beginning of their journey,” court administrators said, adding that families, friends and loved ones will be able to support their graduate virtually. Current recovery court participants will participate virtually.

Court administrators offered some background on the program:

“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. 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 305 participants. Recovery court participants are expected to comply with all treatment recommendations, attend support meetings, gain employment, and demonstrate payment of fines, court officials said.