Third Judicial District Drug Court Convenes
The Third Judicial District Drug Court convened for the first time yesterday at 4:00 p.m. in the Lafayette County Chancery Building. The availability of the Drug Court provides an alternative to incarceration for defendants charged with certain drug related crimes. Third Judicial District Circuit Court Judge Andrew Howorth presided as three defendants plead guilty to various offenses with the understanding that they will be entering the Drug Court rehabilitative treatment program for alcohol and/or drug addiction. Unlike traditional procedure in Circuit Court, where a guilty plea to a felony results in the punishment of incarceration or probation, Drug Court provides a rehabilitative option. This distinction between punishment and rehabilitation most distinguishes Drug Court from the traditional Circuit Court procedure.
Successful completion of the Drug Court program offers many offenders the opportunity to have the charges against them dismissed, their sentence reduced or set aside, and usually results in lesser penalties. The Drug Court program places stringent requirements on defendants by requiring them to sign a "Drug Court Contract" which outlines a number of commitments that must be made, including: full participation in long-term alcohol and/or drug treatment (to include 12-step meetings and twice-a-week drug testing); attendance at all court mandated meetings; payment of fees and fines as directed by the court; and, agreement not to use or possess drugs or alcohol, or associate with any persons who use or possess drugs. Additionally, Drug Court personnel may make surprise visits to the defendant's home or place of work to check for drug and/or alcohol use. If the defendant does not successfully complete the drug court program he or she will re-enter the traditional punishment-based court system.
Persons entering the Drug Court treatment program will generally meet with Judge Howorth each Thursday at 4:00 p.m. At the close of the Hearing, Judge Howorth addressed each defendant, encouraging them to use the Drug Court process as a path to "regain control of [their] life."
Successful completion of the Drug Court program offers many offenders the opportunity to have the charges against them dismissed, their sentence reduced or set aside, and usually results in lesser penalties. The Drug Court program places stringent requirements on defendants by requiring them to sign a "Drug Court Contract" which outlines a number of commitments that must be made, including: full participation in long-term alcohol and/or drug treatment (to include 12-step meetings and twice-a-week drug testing); attendance at all court mandated meetings; payment of fees and fines as directed by the court; and, agreement not to use or possess drugs or alcohol, or associate with any persons who use or possess drugs. Additionally, Drug Court personnel may make surprise visits to the defendant's home or place of work to check for drug and/or alcohol use. If the defendant does not successfully complete the drug court program he or she will re-enter the traditional punishment-based court system.
Persons entering the Drug Court treatment program will generally meet with Judge Howorth each Thursday at 4:00 p.m. At the close of the Hearing, Judge Howorth addressed each defendant, encouraging them to use the Drug Court process as a path to "regain control of [their] life."
Trackbacks
-
24 August 2008, 6:28 PM
Mississippi Criminal Defense Law Blog wrote:
This story, from The Christian Science Monitor, caught my attention today. The story begins as follows: Drug cartels have turned to a new and effective vehicle to smuggle their goods, using small, homemade "semi-submersibles" that are hard to detect and yet effective at carrying millions of dollars worth of cocaine and other illicit drugs that end up in the United States. Military officials who oversee Latin and South America have grown alarmed by the increased use of these boats, which poke out above the water only a foot or so but carry more ...
Comments