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If you are facing drug-related charges in DuPage County, you should explore your options to transfer your case to DuPage County Drug Court. With the assistance of a DuPage County criminal defense attorney, you could walk away with a sentence of only substance abuse treatment instead of jail time or a permanent conviction on your criminal record. To find out whether you are eligible for DuPage County Drug Court, give our DuPage County drug attorneys a call at (312) 466-9466.
The DuPage County Drug Court strives to divert drug offenders away from prison and towards rehabilitation. In the long term, this results in better community outcomes and fewer instances of repeat offending.
Overall, the program seeks to stop the cycle of addiction and prevent future criminal behavior. In DuPage County, the Drug Court program partners with several community agencies that provide a variety of substance abuse treatment services.
The Drug Court office is located in the probation department in the annex of the DuPage County Courthouse and is open Monday through Friday 8:00 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. If you have specific questions about the DuPage County Drug Court Program, you can contact the Program Manager Jean Solon at 630-407-8846 according to the County of DuPage website.
If you are suffering from addiction and are facing non-violent drug charges, then the DuPage drug court program could be a good option for you. However, not all defendants are eligible. Below, you can find some information about the program requirements and restrictions. At the Law Office of Steven R. Hunter, an experienced DuPage County drug lawyer will walk you through the application process and make sure you satisfy all necessary prerequisites.
Not all DuPage County drug defendants are eligible for drug court. Before applying for the program, you will need to talk through your options with your criminal defense lawyer to ensure you meet the necessary requirements for enrollment.
In order to secure entry into the program, you must:
If any of the following apply to you, you will automatically be denied entrance:
If you satisfy these qualifications and want to apply for your case to be heard in DuPage County Drug Court, your attorney will file the Drug Court Application in court.
A copy of this application can be found on the 18th Judicial Circuit Court website. The form is also available in paper copy in all felony courtrooms in the DuPage County Courthouse.
However, satisfaction of all of these requirements does not guarantee acceptance into the drug court program. Ultimately, the State can deny admission based upon outstanding facts and circumstances surrounding prior or pending criminal cases.
At the Law Offices of Steven R. Hunter, we will help you decide whether you are a good candidate for the DuPage County Drug Court program and present a compelling case for your acceptance if you choose to apply.
Once a defendant files their application for admission into drug court, the State will pull a criminal history report, which lists all of the defendants' criminal history, both as an adult and a juvenile.
The Assistant State's Attorney will then review the case to determine whether the defendant is a good fit for drug court. He or she will review the defendant's criminal history, pending charges and the applicant's parole status. The prosecutor may even contact the arresting police officer or the victim if there is one to solicit their input as needed. The defense attorney may also submit additional information at the request of the prosecutors.
After this process, the Assistant State's Attorney will announce their decision. If you are denied entry, the decision can still be appealed. You and your legal counsel will have the opportunity to go before a judge and make a case for admittance, and the judge will ultimately decide whether or not to move forward with the application.
Once the application is approved, a defendant will enter the screening period. During this phase, the defendant undergoes several evaluations and tests, including submitting background information and completing an addiction assessment. If you are currently in DuPage County Jail at the time of admittance to the program, you will be moved to the Recovery Pod, a special unit for drug offenders that provides substance abuse programming. If you are out on bond, you will be required to attend weekly treatment groups as well as undergo random weekly drug testing. During this screening period, at no time may a defendant consume alcohol or drugs, besides approved prescription drugs.
If the defendant satisfies the requirements for the initial screening period, he or she will then undergo a Substance Abuse Assessment by a licensed treatment provider. The results of this assessment will determine what type of treatment the defendant will receive and what degree of counseling is necessary.
Once all prerequisites have been completed, the defendant will enter pleading proceedings for their pending charges. At this time, the applicant will also be advised of the treatment recommendations and program placement.
If you successfully complete the prescribed program, you will not have to serve any jail time. For this reason, drug court is an excellent option for DuPage County residents who are charged with drug crimes as a second or third-time offense and suffer from addiction.
Jail time is a very real possibility for DuPage County drug defendants, but it isn't the only possibility. There are alternatives, including drug counseling and rehab programs. There are various DuPage County drug rehab programs, and with the aid of a knowledgeable criminal defense attorney, it is possible to avoid prison and instead enroll in substance abuse treatment.
We have a long history of defending people accused of drug-related crimes in Illinois and DuPage County. Call us today at (312) 466-9466 to schedule an in-office consultation. A lawyer from our office will walk you through all of the options available to you and help you decide which legal strategy is best for you.
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312-466-9466