Drug Court
A treatment-based court program called Drug Court may be available to certain individuals who have felony criminal charges in Kitsap County. This program offers non-traditional, individualized treatment for chemical dependence as an alternative to criminal prosecution. Drug Court is only available to participants whose level of dependence on substances must be high enough that both they and the community will benefit from treatment.
Drug Court Eligibility
A. The potential participant was brought before the Court because of their addiction.
B. DENIEDAdmission is granted if the case involves any of the following:
1. Any sex offense
2. Any serious or violent offense
3. Manufacture of Methamphetamine
4. Promoting Prostitution
5. Any offense including an allegation of discharging of a weapon
6. Any offense resulting in death or great bodily harm
7. Domestic Violence offenses (but there are exceptions)
8. Delivery of a controlled substance to a minor
9. If the prospective participant is currently serving a DOSA or FOSA sentence
10. Prior Adult Drug Court or Veteran’s Court graduate (some exceptions apply)
11. Evidence of gang affiliation
12. Currently or very recently working with law enforcement as a confidential informant
13. Violent Traffic Offenses or Felony DUI
14. A restitution obligation that exceeds or will likely exceed $2,000.
C. The potential participant will be denied admission is not possible if you have the following criminal records:
1. Any Sex offense
2. Any Class A or serious violent offense
3. Any violent offense within the last 10 years
4. Promoting Prostitution
5. Convictions with gang enhancements within the last 10 years
6. Four or more DV felony convictions or six or more gross misdemeanor or misdemeanor DV convictions within the last 10 years
7. Currently a registered sex offender
D. The potential participant will DENIED If:
1. Current offense is a Residential Burglary where the victim was home
2. More than one prior conviction for Residential Burglary within the last 5 years.
3. Three or more DV offenses within the last 5 years (felony or misdemeanor)
4. The current offense involves allegations of or prior convictions for major economic offenses
5. Major drug crimes
6. Assault 3 on a Law Enforcement Officer
E. Other factors that could affect eligibility
1. Significant criminal history, including juvenile history
2. The age of the criminal history
3. The victims wishes
4. History of compliance while the prospective participant was on other probation or supervision programs
5. How the prospective participant embraced other opportunities at recovery
6. Whether it is a major crime as determined by the Prosecutor’s Office
7. History of failures to appear, bench warrants etc.
8. Prior Adult Drug Court participation
9. The presence of any aggravating circumstances
10. The presence of severe medical issues or mental disorder that would make it difficult for the participant to comply with the Drug Court rules and regulations
How Drug Court Works
Acceptance into the program requires that the potential participant fully accept the program’s structure and team dynamics. The typical length of the program is one year, but it can be extended depending on how the participant progresses. The Court will drop any criminal charges that are pending after the completion of the program. Failure to follow the Drug Court Program terms will result in the participant being terminated from the program and prosecuted for the underlying charges. The participant agrees to the facts necessary for a conviction.
Cost
The Drug Court program is $1,500. Treatment fees will be determined by your ability to pay and the availability of private insurance.
JGR Law Offices, a criminal defense and DUI law firm with offices throughout Washington State, is JGR Law Offices. Talking about Behavioral Health Court and any mental illness is difficult. To find out if Drug Court might be right for you, call our office.