It is safe to assume those who have spent most of their adult lives in trouble for drug crimes have underlying problems in their lives. It is also safe to believe that such issues contribute to drug offense recidivism here and across the country.
In 2017, Harrisonburg joined many other Virginia areas that offer treatment programs to repeat offenders. Now, those charged with drug crimes in the Harrisonburg region have an alternative to a jail or prison sentence.
A multi-pronged approach
At one time, the top goal of law enforcement was to get drug offenders off the streets and locked away from the rest of society. Unfortunately, this approach failed to address the core issues leading to drug addiction, and subsequently, crime.
The drug treatment programs now available do much more than remove offenders from the community. They also help them overcome problems that contribute to drug misuse through a multi-pronged approach to treatment. Typically, these programs are intensive, and participants must commit to completing the program. The expressed goals of Virginia drug courts include the following:
- Reduce drug dependency and addiction among drug offenders
- Increase overall accountability for offenders
- Reduce habitual drug relapses among drug offenders
- Promote more effective use of community and criminal justice resources
- Reduce drug-related court cases in the judicial system
When successful, drug crime defendants can usually avoid a jail sentence while also receiving treatment through a drug court. These programs have replaced despair with hope for many that spent a considerable part of their adult lives in jail for drug crimes.
We recommend learning more about treatment programs as well as state drug laws. If you want to explore the possibility of acceptance into a program, you may benefit from legal guidance and protection.