Cape May County Recovery Court to Graduate 47 Participants

The Atlantic/Cape May Vicinage will recognize the successes of 47 graduates from the recovery court program in Cape May County during a ceremony on Thursday, May 19 at 10 a.m. at the Cape May County Courthouse, 9 N. Main St., Cape May Court House.

“We’re fortunate to have our participants conclude supervision at a time when we’re all emerging from the pandemic cocoon.

This has been an especially difficult journey for our participants, given the constraints of the pandemic, and we give them all a lot of credit,” said Superior Court Judge Jeffrey Waldman, who leads Cape May County’s recovery court program.

The two-hour ceremony marks two momentous events in participants’ lives: the culmination of their journeys from addiction to recovery, and a fresh start in life without the stigma of a criminal record.

The recovery court team, which is staffed by court personnel, attorneys, probation officers, substance abuse evaluators, and treatment professionals, has continued to support participants in their recovery by providing supervision and resources.

On graduation day, Judge Waldman, will sign expungement orders for all eligible graduates.

One graduate will be named the Participant of the Year.

The ceremony will include encouraging words from Assignment Judge Michael Blee, Criminal Division Presiding Judge Bernard DeLury, Judge Waldman, and recovery court probation officers.

While introducing their respective graduates, probation officers will speak about the strength and resolve that characterized each participant’s journey to recovery.

“Each of our graduates has had a unique set of challenges along the way but with the support of our dedicated probation officers, treatment providers, and community partners they have been able to succeed and celebrate this huge accomplishment,” said Recovery Court Coordinator Sherry Phillips.