PATERSON, NJ – New Jersey Attorney General Matthew J. Platkin, along with Passaic County Prosecutor Camelia M. Valdes and Officer in Charge Isa Abbassi, announced the launch of the Opt for Help and Hope initiative in Paterson. The program is designed to divert individuals arrested for non-violent offenses related to substance use disorders into recovery rather than the criminal justice system.
Funded by a settlement with McKinsey and Company over allegations of opioid advertisement misconduct, Opt for Help and Hope aims to provide early intervention and connect defendants with recovery resources. The initiative is overseen by the New Jersey Coordinator for Addiction Responses and Enforcement Strategies (NJ CARES) and is currently active in Paterson, the first of six cities in the state to adopt the pilot program.
Participants in the voluntary program, if compliant with the recovery plan, may have their municipal charges dismissed. Prevention is Key, Inc. has partnered with the Passaic County Prosecutor’s Office to offer peer recovery specialists to guide eligible defendants through clinical assessments and community-based treatment services.
Attorney General Platkin emphasized the importance of support over incarceration for individuals battling addiction, noting that a criminal record could hinder recovery prospects. Passaic County Prosecutor Valdes highlighted the need for early intervention at the municipal court level, which often serves as the first contact with the criminal justice system for many individuals.
The initiative, which received $333,333 for implementation in Paterson Municipal Court, is also set to be introduced in the municipal courts of Atlantic County, Pemberton, East Orange, Hamilton Township, and Franklin Township. These locations were chosen based on drug-related data and available resources.
NJ CARES Acting Director Kelly E. Levy expressed satisfaction with the program’s progress and anticipation of its expansion to other counties. The Attorney General’s Office expects to receive over $1 billion for opioid epidemic interventions, with Opt for Help and Hope being one of the earliest beneficiaries. The pilot program’s funding covers a 24-month period, ending in February 2025.