Is Lee County drug court an option for your college student?

On Behalf of | Jul 13, 2020 | Drug Crimes

Is your college student or young adult facing serious drug or alcohol-related charges in the Fort Myers area? He or she may be able to avoid jail time and receive substance use treatment through the Lee County Drug Court program. 

Learn more about the eligibility requirements and expectations for this pretrial intervention. 

Eligibility for the program 

Lee County Drug Court is open to county residents who are at least 18 years old. Participants can apply for this recovery program when facing probation violation or felony charges involving substance use. These charges may include possession of cocaine, cannabis, heroin, opiates or MDMA and could carry up to five years in prison for the first offense. During the program, your college student must either attend school or work full-time in addition to attending required court dates and treatment sessions. 

Participation requirements 

Your family member can receive a referral to the Drug Court program from the Florida Department of Corrections, or by recommendation from his or her health care provider or attorney. Upon referral, he or she will receive substance use disorder screening to determine whether addiction treatment is appropriate. 

Most people complete the Drug Court program within 15 to 24 months. Each of the five phases has specific requirements to meet before moving forward, including: 

  • Payment of applicable fees 
  • Random urine drug and alcohol screening 
  • Regular court appearances and progress reviews 
  • Community service hours 

Failure to meet these requirements could result in certain sanctions, including dismissal from the program. 

Benefits of Drug Court 

If your family member struggles with drug or alcohol use, Drug Court could be the first step toward a substance-free lifestyle. In addition to substance use disorder treatment and addiction recovery skills, participants will have the opportunity to pursue career training or education. 

Upon program completion, your college student will be eligible for dismissal of his or her charges. He or she will become equipped with the tools to avoid future criminal charges and other complications of addiction. 

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