Drug Court

As your Tampa Bay Drug Crimes Attorney, we often find ways to get drug cases dismissed. One option we use frequently are finding placement into diversion programs. If you have been arrested or charged with Possession of Cocaine or Possession of any felony drug for the first time you may qualify for drug court. The statewide drug court program was started in the 1980s to combat the high volume of arrests for drug related crimes in Miami. The rise in arrests in Dade County caused a revolving door of arrests, entering guilty pleas and getting rearrested days sometimes hours later.

Today many counties in Florida including Hillsborough, Sarasota, and Manatee have drug court diversion programs. If you are charged with a felony drug crime, contact an experienced Drug Defense Attorney today at Pallegar Law, P.A. by calling 813-444-3912 if you are charged with a drug crime in Tampa.

Much like other diversion programs, the completion of Drug Court leads to a dismissal of the charges against you. However, like Veterans Court, Drug Court is more intense, more involved, and takes longer to complete. It also requires you to go before a judge on a monthly basis to make sure you are completing the required treatment and you have not committed any new law violations. As Tampa Bay Drug Crimes Attorneys we can often waive your appearance and appear for you in many cases.

To be a candidate for the Tampa drug pretrial intervention court you have to be an adult first time offender with no prior felony drug charges or convictions. You also have to acknowledge you have a drug related problem and waive your right to a speedy trial. Speedy trial is the time frame permitted by the prosecution to bring your case to trial.

Drug court requires you to attend counseling sessions multiple times per week (totaling around nine hours to start but decreases gradually), provide random urine screens and undergo acupuncture. The Drug Abuse Comprehensive Coordinating Office (DACCO) facilitates the treatment program.

To be admitted into drug court your Tampa Criminal Defense Attorney must provide you with the application form which both of you will sign. Than you will be screened by a drug counselor who will provide that evaluation report to the State Attorney. Your case will then proceed in the current division with regular case management conferences until you are either accepted or denied entry into drug court. If you are accepted, a transfer order into Drug Court will be signed by the felony division judge. After you are accepted into drug court you have three weeks to decide whether or not to participate. Once you are in Drug Court you cannot litigate the case by filing motions or setting the case for trial and you must waive speedy trial ultimately entering a plea.

The drug court judge will make the decision on the final acceptance, and or termination from the program. If you do not appear for any appointments or miss a court date you will be rejected from drug court.

For more information on the programs offered by drug court contact an experienced Tampa criminal defense and drug defense attorney today at Pallegar Law, P.A. by calling 813-444-3912 for a no charge consultation.