New England Association of Drug Court Professionals (NEADCP) Has Changed Our Name to New England Association for Recovery Court Professionals (NEARCP)

In celebration of twenty-five years of New England Drug Courts as well as twenty years of our organization, the President and Board of Directors are pleased to announce we are now The New England Association of Recovery Court Professionals (NEARCP). This new name better reflects our comprehensive approach for high-risk participants in an era of expanding treatment courts including, but not limited to, Veteran, Family, Juvenile, Re-Entry, Mental Health, DUI, Federal and Tribal courts. Multiple studies show drug courts/recovery courts reduce crime, are cost effective and save lives.

NEARCP’s enhanced mission is not only treatment but also “recovery” in all of its varied definitions. “Recovery” includes substance use disorders as well as “Recovery” from a lifestyle conflicted by other conditions such as PTSD. Our organization will, despite its name change, continue to focus on the best practices of the treatment court model.

Our Mission

We provide a forum, through training, technical assistance, and information sharing, to promote the development of sound drug treatment court programs throughout New England that apply — and stay current with — evolving evidence based practices and emerging issues to meet the full range of needs of the individuals eligible for recovery court services.

Our Goals

  • To provide high quality training, technical assistance, information sharing
    mechanisms and other support to the recovery treatment courts in the six New England states, tailored to the needs and issues they are addressing.
  • To promote coordination and sharing of information and resources, as feasible, in the development of policies and practices relating to the recovery court programs in New England.
  • To provide a central repository of resources relating to the development,
    operation and administration of recovery treatment courts in New England which
    highlight regional and state-specific issues not readily targeted in national resources and which New England programs can utilize and share.
  • To develop a range of collaborative relationships, at multiple levels, with
    federal, state and local governmental and nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) to promote potential partnerships to enhance NEARCP’s training, technical assistance and outreach and to increase its visibility.

What is a Drug/Specialty/Recovery Court?

Drug Courts/Recovery Courts are an effective alternative to incarcerating repeat, non-violent drug offenders. In lieu of jail, addicts are mandated to receive comprehensive treatment, which peer reviewed research shows reduces relapses and re-arrests. There are now over 4,000 recovery courts in the United States.

2025 NEARCP Board of Directors

Name Title State
Hon. Robert Ziemian, President Justice, Retired MA
Hon. Tina Nadeau, Vice President Chief Justice, Superior Court, Retired NH
Thomas O’Brien, Treasurer Senior Assistant State’s Attorney, Retired CT
Judith Lawler, Interim Secretary Assistant Chief Probation Officer, Malden District Court, Retired MA
Scott Allen Retired Chief of Police, East Bridgewater, Massachusetts Police Department; Executive Director – Community Engagement Cordata Healthcare Innovations Inc. CT
Alex Casale New Hampshire Statewide Drug Offender Program Coordinator NH
Catherine Chichester MSN, PMHCN-BC, Executive Director, Co-Occurring Collaborative Serving Maine ME
Todd Crawford Coordinator, Specialty Dockets and Grants ME
Maureen Derbacher Court Management Specialist, Retired CT
Hon. Kevin W. Griffin Superior Court Judge VT
Linda Hurley President/CEO, CODAC Behavioral Healthcare RI
Hon. Matthew J. Machera First Justice, Chelsea District Court MA
Emma Marietti Court Coordinator, Rhode Island Veterans Treatment Court RI
Christine McKenna Rockingham County Drug Court Director NH
Hon. David Mitchell Judge, Maine Judicial Branch ME
Nicole Owens Supervisory United States Probation Officer CT
Hon. John Pacht Superior Court Judge VT
Hon. Lia Stuhlsatz Associate Justice, Rhode Island Family Court RI
Stephen Von Sitas Regional Treatment Court Coordinator, Vermont Judiciary VT
Hon. Nancy Waples Associate Justice, Supreme Court VT

2025 NEARCP Advisory Board

John Hamilton Past President, NEADCP; CEO Liberation Programs, Inc. CT
Rosemarie Martin Professor, UMass Chan Medical School RI
Katie O’Leary Director of Recovery Support Services, North Suffolk Mental Health Association MA
Dennis Reilly Statewide Drug Court Coordinator, Office of Policy and Planning, NYS Office of Court Administration NY

Board of Directors meeting at the Federal Reserve Building, January 2020