Drug Court Treatment Program

Hollywood Drug Charge Defense Lawyer

Arrested? Charged with a drug crime? Are you worried about the consequences? If you were recently arrested for the first time for possession of drugs or drug paraphernalia or obtaining prescription medicine by fraud in Miami-Dade, Broward or Palm Beach County, you need an experienced criminal defense attorney who has successfully appeared many times in Drug Court. If your case is in the criminal court system, you wantHollywood criminal defense lawyerRichard G. Salzman by your side. Richard G. Salzmanunderstands the system from the inside and will fight to get your case diverted into the Drug Court Treatment Program. If your case has been diverted into the Drug Court Treatment Program, you want a criminal defense lawyer who knows the ins and outs of Drug Court and the Treatment Program requirements. Because once you successfully complete the Drug Court Treatment Program, your conviction is erased, all charges against you are dismissed and you get to keep your criminal record, clean.

If you have been arrested on drug charges, can you really afford to wait? Contact experienced Hollywood criminal defense attorney Richard G. Salzman today for a free and confidential telephone consultation.Call 855-DUI-GONE (855-394-4663), home of Florida’s Premier Criminal Defense Law Firm.

Drug Court in Miami Dade, Broward and Palm Beach Counties

If you think you are eligible to participate, then here’s something you should know…

Not every person charged with a drug offense gets the chance to participate in Drug Court. To qualify, you must be charged with:

• Possessing or purchasing drugs;
• Tampering with evidence;
• Solicitation for purchase;
• Obtaining a prescription by fraud; and
• The state attorney must agree to diversion from criminal court to Drug Court

Drug Court is a “gift” not an entitlement. If you are fortunate enough to be allowed to participate in the program, you will notice a stark contrast between criminal court procedures and Drug Court procedures. Drug Court favors a non-adversarial approach where the state attorneys and the criminal defense lawyers try to work together instead of against each other. Once you are allowed into the Drug Court Program, you will feel support from all court and treatment personnel. All court personnel will work for your success. Drug Court is a 12-month intensive pre-trial intervention programthat combines the legal process with the addiction rehabilitation process. During these 12 months, the case is pending while you rehabilitate yourself from your drug addiction; this means

• frequent treatment,
• frequent court appearances for close monitoring by the Judge,
• prosecutor cannot use tests, assessments and written or oral admissions of drug usage
• prosecutor cannot make reference to pending charges;
• use of incentives for doing well and use of sanctions for any violations;

All of which, leading to dismissal of ALL charges; drug charges and any related charges (i.e.: Speeding; Driving With Suspended License; etc.). In other words,while the Program does allow for an occasional violation or positive test result, compliance with all requirements of the program is necessary in order for you to stay in the program and avoid a drug charges conviction.If the Drug Court staff is recommending termination, you want your Criminal Defense attorney to argue for a sanction (community service hours, repeating a Phase of the Program, etc.) instead of termination from the Program. If you fail the Program and expelled from the Program, your case is sent back to Criminal Court, at the stage of prosecution at which you entered Drug Court.

Think You Qualify for Drug Court?

To qualify to participate in Drug Court, you must be 18 or older, have no prior felony convictions, and be charged with a substance abuse-related criminal charge (possession or buying drugs, tampering with evidence, solicitation for purchase, obtaining a prescription medication by fraud) and the state attorney must agree to diversion.

You are ineligible to participate in Drug Court if you:

• have a history of violent crime,
• have been arrested for drug sale or drug trafficking, or
• have more than two previous non-drug felony convictions.

Before you can enter the Drug Court Program, you must sign a deferred prosecution agreement. This means that you must plead guilty to the charges, first. If you successfully complete the Program, your guilty plea is withdrawn, all charges against you are dropped and the case against you is dismissed. However, if you fail to comply with the Drug Court requirements – you waive your right to a speedy trial and you also sign a limited waiver of confidentiality so that your treatment providers can communicate with the judge.

Three Ways To Benefit From Participation in The Drug Court Program

There are three primary benefits to the Drug Court Treatment Program:

1. Upon successful completion, your case is dismissed;
2. For first time offenders, upon successful completion your records can be sealed;
3. It offers you the chance to change your life in a positive way.

Drug Court is a good alternative to the traditional criminal court system with the possibility of serious jail time for first-time drug offenders. However, it’s very important to have an experienced drug charges attorney on your side (a) to fight for you to get into the Drug Court Program; (b) to be your advocate once you get into the Program, and (c) to guide you along as you proceed with each Phase of the program through successful completion and Graduation from the program.

Right Now, Can There Be Anything More Important Than Your Freedom ?

Contact Richard G. Salzman to set up a meeting to discuss your charges and evaluate your case. Mr. Salzman’s first priority is helping you avoid a drug charge conviction that can ruin your life!

For your FREE initial case evaluation by phone, Call 855-DUI-GONE(855-384-4663), home of South Florida’s Premier Drug Charge Defense Law Firm. Learn how Mr. Salzman can help save your freedom.