Drug Treatment Court gives non-violent drug offenders a chance to participate in an intense treatment and rehabilitation program supervised by County Court Judge James McCarthy. If they complete the program under the terms of their contract, participants may have their criminal charges dismissed. In order to be eligible, the offender must have been charged with a nonviolent felony or misdemeanor, or have a violation of probation, have no prior convictions for a violent offense, and have a substance abuse problem. In addition to meeting all eligibility requirements, District Attorney Dennis Hawthorne Sr. and Judge McCarthy must approve of the offender s participation in the program. The defendant signs a contract that they will comply with the conditions of the program, explained Guyer.
Participants appear in front of the judge on a regular basis to review their progress.
They undergo an evaluation and treatment program that lasts at least a year and are randomly tested for drugs. Participants attend outpatient treatment at a substance abuse treatment agency three to five times a week, and attend self-help meetings three to five times a week. They really have to invest in the program. If they complete the terms of their contract and successfully complete their supervision and treatment conditions, the original criminal charges will either be reduced or dismissed. The Oswego County Drug Task Force made 493 drug-related arrests last year.