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CS/SB 400 — Treatment-based Drug Court Programs
by Criminal Justice Committee and Senators Wise, Fasano, Latvala, and Joyner
This summary is provided for information only and does not represent the opinion of any Senator, Senate Officer, or Senate Office.
Prepared by: Criminal Justice Committee (CJ)
This bill provides for additional sentencing options for a statutorily restricted population of defendants and community supervision offenders who might successfully, and safely, be diverted from the prison system into existing postadjudicatory drug court programs. The target population consists of offenders who have a substance abuse or addiction problem that is amenable to treatment and who are currently in the criminal justice system because of a nonviolent felony offense.
Entry into the postadjudicatory drug court program is also expanded to include offenders who violate their probation or community control for any reason.
Whether having violated community supervision or before the court for sentencing on a substantive law violation, the candidate for a postadjudicatory drug court program may not score more than 60 sentencing points, shall be before the court for sentencing on a nonviolent felony, and must show by a drug screening and the court’s assessment that he or she is amenable to substance abuse or addiction treatment. The defendant or offender must agree to enter the program. The state attorney and victim, if any, must be consulted. Successful completion of the program is a condition of a probation or community control sentence.
If approved by the Governor, these provisions take effect July 1, 2011.
Vote: Senate 39-0; House 117-1