Drug Court Program
If you have been charged with drug charges, you may be worried about what will happen to you now. New York has a drug court program that an experienced attorney can help you navigate.
Many courts across the county in New York County as well as different counties throughout the state have implemented what’s commonly referred to as drug courts. I’ve attended almost all of the courts in Erie County, and I can speak to several of the courts that are participating in different counties, but essentially what happens is they implement these courts for individuals who are charged with alcohol or drug crimes. They will be assessed and if they qualify for these particular courts, they may be eligible for a reduced sentence at the completion of this particular drug court program.
What does it entail? You have to get assessed by this particular court, accepted into the drug court program, and waive a lot of your constitutional rights such as the court getting your screening results, searches of your home during the particular time that you’re involved in this court. If you qualify and you complete it, your charge could then be reduced. However, and I tell my clients all the time, if you do not meet the qualifications or you slip up so to speak, there are sanctions that this particular court could impose. That could include lengthening the time of the drug court program, it could be some community service, and it could be as strict as a weekend in jail. Ultimately you could get kicked out of the court and then revert back to the normal criminal court.
It’s a great drug court program. It helps a tremendous amount of people. However, there are several hoops that you have to go through. It’s very important if you think you have an issue or a family member does, you consult a seasoned attorney who’s very familiar with these courts to help you navigate through them so you can get into the right court and realize exactly what potentially you are giving up in terms of your civil liberties and what the end result could possibly be.
If you have any further questions about the drug court program, please contact experienced Buffalo criminal defense attorney John Dudziak and schedule a free consultation today.