Programs
The Office of the Hudson County Prosecutor has instituted a Veterans Diversion Program for eligible residents within Hudson County. Under the VDP, as codified in the New Jersey Criminal Code at N.J.S.A. 2C:43-23 to 2C:43-31, veterans who are charged with certain non-violent crimes may be eligible for diversion to rehabilitative treatment in lieu of the traditional criminal justice process. The program involves intensive supervision and monitoring of a veteran’s treatment by an applicable treatment provider, the Veterans Administration, and the Prosecutor’s Office. Participants must meet all diversion requirements to remain in the VDP, and ordinarily, the program must be successfully completed within two years from the date of diversion. Upon successful completion of the VDP, the participant may have their charges dismissed.
RECOVERY COURT
Recovery Courts are unique in that the program revolves around a team based approach to a participant’s treatment with the Judge as the leader of the team. The team includes, court staff, lawyers, probation officers, substance abuse evaluators and treatment programs who work collaboratively to support and monitor a participant’s recovery. The overall goal of Recovery Court is to target those offenders who would benefit from drug and alcohol counseling in an attempt to break the cycle of addiction and recidivism.
SAFE PLACE
The Hudson County Prosecutor’s Office has coordinated with the Seattle Police Department to create a county-wide Safe Place program in Hudson County. Safe Place is a law enforcement initiative, developed by the Seattle Police Department, to enhance public education regarding the reporting of hate crimes.