Morris County Community Connections Program Celebrates Its Third Anniversary

Tuesday, June 25, 2024, 2:00 P.M. ET. By Art Fletcher: Englebrook Independent News; Public Service Announcement From The Morris County Sheriff’s Office

MORRISTOWN, NJ.- Morris County Sheriff James M. Gannon, the Honorable Stuart Minkowitz, and Morris County Prosecutor Robert J. Carroll are proud to announce the third anniversary of Community Connections. 

     Together with the New Jersey Administrative Office of Courts, this innovative approach is the first of its kind to connect court-involved individuals to an array of services. Community Connections continues to provide linkage to include recovery support, mental health services, and social services.

     Serving as a pilot program for the State of New Jersey, this program has already proven to be successful with connecting over 471 individuals to these life-changing services.

     Sheriff Gannon said, “The matters that come before the Court which qualify for Community Connections involvement are often complex. There is a law enforcement component, a judicial process component, and a treatment and rehabilitation component. The Community Connections program has been successful in affording quality services to those in need over the last three years and is expected to continue to provide those services for years to come. Much like the multi-layered nature of the cases, the partnerships providing services are comprehensive and constantly working together for the benefit and the best outcome for the individual in need.”

     The Morris County Sheriff’s Office, the Successful Transition and Re-Entry Program (STAR), the New Jersey Administrative Office of Courts, and the Morris County Prosecutor’s Office are successfully working together to provide support to court-involved individuals struggling with substance use and mental health disorders. The Mental Health Association (MHA) and Prevention is Key’s Center for Addiction, Recovery, Education & Success (CARES) are essential partners in providing these life-saving resources.

     Prosecutor Carroll stated, “Community Connections has established a vital link between important social, mental health, and substance abuse services and community members in need. Providing a multi-faceted introduction through coordination among the Sheriff, our Judiciary and the MCPO personnel enables persons in crisis to get direct access to help and provides follow-up services that have proven to be highly effective. The MCPO remains dedicated to continuing this mission to help individuals connect early with services that are designed to address their social, mental, and medical needs and provide alternative remedies to recidivist criminal prosecutions.”

     On Friday, June 14, 2024, the Community Connections Resource Fair was held in the Jury Assembly Room of the Morris County Courthouse. Over 20 providers attended this event to offer immediate access to services. Speakers included Sheriff James M. Gannon, Assignment Judge Stuart Minkowitz, and Community Connections Coordinator Officer Justin Sudol.

    Court-involved individuals can fill out the online form on the Morris County Sheriff’s Office Community Connections web page. Community Connections.