Atlantic County officials highlight Central Municipal Court consolidation, say program cuts costs and reduces reoffending

Atlantic County officials and service providers on Wednesday described the county'run Central Municipal Court as a cost-saving, justice-diversion model that connects people to social services and, the program''s managers say, prevents many repeat arrests.

The presentation to the Atlantic County Board of Commissioners was led by Mark Sainz, who introduced the court team and invited the assignment judge and service partners to describe the court's work and results.

The court's assignment judge, Michael Blee, said consolidation was created by legislation and has required coordination across municipalities and state agencies. He said the Administrative Office of the Courts has supported the effort and that the Department of Community Affairs has provided grant funding. "With the help of [the Department of Community Affairs] . . . a million dollars was brought back through the DCA to defray some of the costs," Blee said.

Andrea Steinberg, chief executive officer of Jewish Family Service, and Ayanna James, director of Justice-Involved Services at Jewish Family Service, described the nonprofit's role operating on-the-ground case management for people who appear in Central Municipal Court. "We typically have between 20 to 25 cases a month, but currently, in the month of January, we have 22," James said. She added that staff provide ongoing case management: "the ladies that are…