|
Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...
|
A bill was introduced in the Senate last week that would rename Alabama’s drug courts as accountability courts and create a treatment plan for residents experiencing crises.
SB200, introduced by Sen. Andrew Jones, R-Centre, has 26 cosponsors and garnered bipartisan support. It would expand the Alabama Drug Offender Accountability Act, which would now be known as the Alabama Offender Accountability Act.
“The Legislature recognizes that a critical need exists in this state for the criminal justice system to more effectively address the number of offenders who have a substance abuse disorder, who suffer from mental illness, or who suffer from a condition related to a veteran’s mental illness or substance abuse,” the bill reads.
The Administrative Office of the Courts would develop policies and procedures to implement these courts statewide. It would also act as a liaison between courts and agencies assisting in their mission.
A judge in charge of a judicial circuit can establish an accountability court. Participation in the programming could be a condition for pretrial release, probation, parole, or other alternatives to traditional sentencing.
Each drug accountability court can be structured and operated differently based on the needs and resources of the local judicial district. However, they must follow the guidelines set by Alabama law and the policies established by the Alabama Supreme Court.
Standard program timelines currently include pre-adjudication, post-adjudication, reentry or a combination of these.
The bill would also repeal the state code section relating to drug testing procedures in the courts.
“The criminal justice system should be used constructively to motivate offenders to accept treatment and engage in the treatment process,” the bill reads.
The bill was referred to the Senate Veterans, Military Affairs and Public Safety Committee.
