Many people who are facing drug charges in Illinois are suffering from severe drug addictions that they have never received any treatment for. In many cases, drug addicts would not be able to afford to enroll in drug treatment programs even if they wanted to. A person who is addicted to drugs may be able to receive free treatment and avoid criminal prosecution by entering a drug court.
Drug courts are programs that defendants may enter before a criminal trial or after pleading guilty to criminal counts. If a defendant agrees to participate in drug court before their trial, the defendant may have their charges dropped after successful completion of the program. A person who enters drug court after pleading guilty to drug charges may have their sentence reduced.
When a person agrees to participate in drug court, they are randomly tested for drug use on a frequent basis. Participants in drug court also receive drug treatment that includes counseling, assistance and support. Coerced drug treatment programs like drug court have been shown to have the same benefits as voluntary drug treatment programs. In fact, coerced drug treatment can actually yield better results than voluntary treatment, and it may be the only way that some drug addicts will ever get help.
A person who is facing a lengthy prison sentence for drug possession or drug trafficking charges may be able to negotiate for a reduced sentence by enrolling in drug court. A criminal defense attorney may be able to help a defendant to enter a drug court as early as possible so that the defendant may have a chance to avoid criminal charges.