If you have been arrested or charged with a drug offense in New Jersey, you may be eligible for entry into "Drug Court." Drug Court is an alternative to prison for certain individuals charged with non-violent drug offenses.
Nearly 80% of all crimes in New Jersey are committed by individuals under the influence of drugs or alcohol. Research has shown that New Jersey prisons are simply overloaded with non-violent drug offenders. In response, the New Jersey Courts implemented the Drug Court program. Combining drug treatment and supervision has been shown to be much more effective in reducing drug dependency that simply sending an individual to prison.
Unlike a typical criminal trial, Drug Court is a non-adversarial process. Drug Court includes intense probation supervision, frequent and random drug screening, and drug treatment and counseling. You are eligible to enroll in Drug Court if you are a non-violent, drug offender.
The program is specifically designed for defendants who probably would never have been involved with the criminal justice system if not for their drug problems. Applicants must be clinically examined and then screened by the Drug Court team before they are admitted into the program.
You are generally not eligible for Drug Court if your current or pending charge involves a violent offense or if you have been previously convicted of a violent offense. Also, if your evaluation shows that your offense was motivated by profit, rather than addiction, you will not be admitted. Finally, if you have used a juvenile to assist you in selling drugs, you will not be eligible for drug court.
If you have been arrested or charged with a drug offense in New Jersey, call a criminal defense attorney to discuss if Drug Court is the right choice for you.
