Can a lawyer please explain OK "drug court" to me?

[BvillePoker]

I know of a situation where a person who has had multiple arrests in the past was arrested and charged with felony burglary, escape from detention, possession of controlled substance, possession of drug paraphernalia. This person was approved for "drug court" and all charges were dismissed contingent on completing "drug court." WTF?!?! So basically I someone can burglarize someplace and as long as he has some pills in his pocket he get to go to rehab and all is forgiven?

 

[JonnyVito]

I bet he doesn't make it through the program. Drug Court is pretty strict and if you are at that point you are a screw up.

 

[J.R. Murphy's]

I know of a situation where a person who has had multiple arrests in the past was arrested and charged with felony burglary, escape from detention, possession of controlled substance, possession of drug paraphernalia. This person was approved for "drug court" and all charges were dismissed contingent on completing "drug court." WTF?!?! So basically I someone can burglarize someplace and as long as he has some pills in his pocket he get to go to rehab and all is forgiven?

In Oklahoma, drug court is an alternative for non-violent offenders. Some counties can limit eligibility to certain non-violent offenses. Also, if the underlying arrest involves trafficking, then they aren't eligible. It's basically probation with a LOT of conditions, a LOT of counseling (group and individual), and a LOT of supervision, including multiple drug screenings, often twice a week. Offenders can't live in a residence where drugs or alcohol are present by anyone, not even parents or roommates.

It also comes down to cost. Per the Ok. Dept. of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services- "The average annual cost of incarceration in the Oklahoma Department of Corrections is $19,000 per person, compared with the average annual per person cost for drug court participation of $5,000." With the state's budget woes, you can expect to see more of this in the future.

I would imagine the court ordered a drug/alcohol abuse assessment which determined that substance abuse was a significant factor in the crimes committed. Personally, I believe this individual you speak of had a pretty good attorney to get him into drug court with the escape from detention charge.

 

[HighStickHarry_]

I know a guy who was facing 25 years for a grow house, cameras and multiple guns on the property. His partners plead down and testified against him. He also told his probation officer he smoked weed everyday. He got zero jail time.

 

[NeekReevers]

I know a guy who was facing 25 years for a grow house, cameras and multiple guns on the property. His partners plead down and testified against him. He also told his probation officer he smoked weed everyday. He got zero jail time.

Sounds like the guy was a truth-telling gun-owning farmer....what's the big deal?

 

[osujfro]

I'm pretty familiar with drug court, and in the cases I have personally witnessed it is a much better (and really more successful) alternative to prison