Judge Carol Berkman Visits Phoenix House Academy At Yorktown

Last week, Jose Rosario, Director of our Phoenix House Academy at Yorktown, experienced a very special reunion during a visit from the Honorable Carol Berkman of the New York County Supreme Court. On October 20, 1986, Mr. Rosario appeared in Judge Berkman’s court after his probation officer reported him for selling drugs. Judge Berkman made the impactful decision that he needed treatment not jail – and mandated him to a program called J-CAP. Mr. Rosario was only 23 years old at the time and decided to make the most of the opportunity. Now, nearly 24 years later, he is Director of our Academy at Yorktown, which receives many referrals from none other than the Honorable Carol Berkman. Mr. Rosario was extremely proud to introduce Judge Berkman to the young people whose lives she’s impacted—and to show her that treatment really does work. Judge Berkman in turn told one of our Academy teens, “You have given me a lot to smile about.”