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Seminole County Drug Court

 

Seminole County Courthouse
301 N. Park Avenue
Sanford, FL 32771
Phone: 407-665-4966

MISSION
The mission of the Seminole County Drug court is to unite the judiciary, criminal justice entities, substance abuse treatment providers, and the community in a singular program that reduces drug use by non-violent offenders, restores them to law-abiding productivity and lessons the fiscal impact on society. The program consists of four phases of which when fully completed a graduation ceremony is performed and the case is dismissed.
HISTORY
Florida started the drug court movement by creating the first treatment-based drug court in the nation in 1989. The drug court concept was developed in Dade County (Miami, Florida) stemming from a federal mandate to reduce the inmate population or suffer the loss of federal funding. The Supreme Court of Florida recognized the severity of the situation and directed Judge Herbert Klein to research the problem. Judge Klein determined that a large majority of criminal inmates had been incarcerated because of drug charges and were revolving back through the criminal justice system because of underlying problems of drug addiction. It was decided that the delivery of treatment services needed to be coupled with the criminal justice system and the need for strong judicial leadership and partnerships to bring treatment services and the criminal justice system together. Ultimately, the model for treatment-based drug courts was born.

As of August 2001, Florida (see map) has 33 operational and seven planned adult drug courts, 17 operational and four planned juvenile drug court, eight operational and five planned dependency drug courts, and two reentry drug court programs.
DRUG COURT BENEFITS
  • End drug related crime activity by the most cost effective method.
  • Keep your job if employed.
  • Avoid incarceration while successfully completing program.
  • Avoid inpatient treatment as long as you succeed in the outpatient program.
  • Resolve your criminal charge without a conviction. Charges are dropped upon successful completion.
 
QUALIFICATIONS
How does a defendant get into drug court?
  • Candidates must meet the following criteria:
  • Must be a resident of Seminole County.
  • Must have a serious drug/alcohol problem needing treatment.
  • Must be charged with at least one of the following felony drug related charges:
  1. Felony possession of a controlled substance.
  2. Unlawful purchase of a controlled substance. Manufacture of a controlled substance (in small, non-commercial amounts).
  3. Obtaining a controlled substance by fraud (forged prescription).
  4. Introduction of contraband (drugs) into a correctional facility.
  5. Felony worthless checks (to support drug habit).
  6. Grand Theft (to support drug habit).
  7. Uttering or Forging certain instruments (to support drug habit).
  • Must be mentally capable of benefiting from Drug Court and possess the motivation to complete the program.
  • Must be approved by the State Attorney's Office.
  • Restitution is required if applicable.
  • Violation of Probation Cases are Acceptable.
  • Defendants with prior violent felonies are NOT eligible.
PHASE I - Educational (Approximately 1 Month)
  • 3 Group Therapy sessions per week & individual counseling as needed.
  • 3 weekly supervisory contacts including random urinalysis.
  • 4 NA/AA meetings per week. (NA= Narcotics Anonymous / AA= Alcoholics Anonymous)
  • Bi-weekly court meeting with the judge.
  • 20 consecutive clean urine days needed to advance to Phase II.
PHASE II- Intensive (Approximately 3 Months)
  • Must have entered a plea or signed a Pretrial Intervention contract.
  • 2 group sessions per week & individual counseling sessions as needed.
  • 3 weekly supervisory contacts including random urinalysis.
  • 3 NA/AA meetings per week.
  • Court meeting with judge every other week.
  • 45 additional consecutive clean urine days needed to advance to Phase III.
PHASE III- Relapse Prevention (Approximately 6 Months)
  • 1 group therapy session per week & individual counseling sessions as needed.
  • 1 weekly supervisory contacts including one random urinalysis.
  • 3 NA/AA meetings per week.
  • One monthly court meeting with judge.
  • 120 additional consecutive clean urine days needed to advance to Phase IV.
PHASE IV- Transition (Approximately 2 Months)
  • 1 group therapy session per month.
  • 1 monthly supervisory contact with random urinalysis as needed.
  • Court meetings with judge as necessary.
GRADUATION
Case Dismissed!
CONTACT INFORMATION
  • Seminole County Drug Court
  • Seminole County Courthouse
  • 301 N. Park Avenue, Sanford, FL 32771
  • Court Administration - 407-665-4200
  • Drug Court Administrator - Bessie Lamb
  • Voice: 407-665-4966


 
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