Bill > A1790

Introduced Session

This bill would designate the drug court program as the "special probation recovery court program." Under N.J.S.A.2C:35-14 et al., currently designated in the statutes as "special probation" and known informally as "drug court," a person convicted of a non-violent crime who is found to be dependent on drugs or alcohol may be sentenced to an intensive, five-year program in lieu of incarceration if the court finds that the person would benefit from such treatment. The program includes inpatient or outpatient substance abuse treatment, supervision, monitoring, and rehabilitation. The courts have described the program as "a critical balance of authority, supervision, support and encouragement." In the view of the sponsor, the term "special probation recovery court program" more accurately describes the purposes and goals of the program, since the person's recovery is an essential component. The program is not focused on "drugs" as such, but instead consists of a comprehensive program of treatment and rehabilitation services. The bill also makes technical changes, updating statutory references to the Division of Mental Health and Addiction Services to reflect its relocation to the Department of Health under Reorganization Plan No. 001-2017.

AI Summary

Committee Categories

Carol Murphy (D)*,  Anthony Verrelli (D)*, 

Introduced, Referred to Assembly Judiciary Committee (on 01/13/2026)

Official Document