For some in Virginia who have been accused of nonviolent drug crimes, the drug court program may be an option. This essentially puts a person into a supervised treatment program. If they complete this program and all of the regulations that come with it, then they may not have to spend time in jail or pay financial fines. It’s an alternative to criminal sentencing.
One of the goals of the drug court program is to reduce the reoffending rate for drug crimes. But how does it do this, and why is it a viable alternative to a prison sentence?
Addressing addiction issues
The big difference here is that the drug court program recognizes that many people find themselves facing drug charges because they are addicted to these illegal substances. Addiction is a medical condition. They may be physically and mentally dependent on the substances.
This is why reoffending rates for drug crimes are so high. If someone simply has to spend a year behind bars and is then released again, the addiction issues haven’t actually been treated. They may fall right back into the same activity and be re-arrested for the same crime. Many people look at jail time as a deterrent to criminal activity, but that doesn’t work when the person is dealing with an addiction.
The drug court program, on the other hand, works on helping the person find treatment for this addiction so that they can put it behind them. That’s why completing the program is necessary, and it’s also why this is used for nonviolent crimes. Many of these cases are simple drug possession cases, where someone had substances for personal use because of their addiction.
Criminal defense options
If you are facing drug charges, it’s definitely important to know about all of the legal options at your disposal. Take the time to carefully consider the steps you should take as you focus on your future.