Drug Treatment Court; restricts use thereof to cases involving possession of drugs or marijuana. (HB2971)
Introduced By
Del. Rob Bell (R-Charlottesville)
Progress
✓ |
Introduced |
✗ |
Passed Committee |
☐ |
Passed House |
☐ |
Passed Senate |
☐ |
Signed by Governor |
☐ |
Became Law |
Description
Drug Treatment Court Act. Restricts the use of Drug Treatment Courts to cases involving possession of drugs or marijuana, and cases involving probation violations following conviction of drug or marijuana possession. Read the Bill »
Outcome
Bill Has Failed
History
Date | Action |
---|---|
01/10/2007 | Committee |
01/10/2007 | Prefiled and ordered printed; offered 01/10/07 073222232 |
01/10/2007 | Referred to Committee for Courts of Justice |
01/17/2007 | Assigned Courts sub: Criminal Law |
02/06/2007 | Left in Courts of Justice |
Comments
This statutory change reverses one very important step forward in drug treatment -- the recognition that often, drug users come to the court system not after having been caught using drugs, but after having forged a check to get money to buy drugs. The main thrust of Drug Court is NOT to "beat the system" - it is to get users the help that they need so that they won't re-offend. The reality is that this extension of drug court -- which only happens in an individual case with the agreement of the prosecutor and the judge -- has worked to get into treatment some drug users who badly needed help. It is for non-violent offenders with drug problems. When they got help, they stopped doing illegal things. What's not to like?
This is morality-based policy, which history tells us does not work anywhere near as well as evidence-based policy.