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Maine Drug Courts
The Maine Drug Courts are a division of the Maine District Courts. There is an adult drug court and juvenile drug court.
A drug court is a special court given the responsibility to handle cases involving drug-using offenders through supervision, drug testing, treatment services and immediate sanctions and incentives.
Drug court programs bring the full weight of all interveners (judges, prosecutors, defense counsel, substance abuse treatment specialists, probation officers, law enforcement and correctional personnel, educational and vocational experts, mental health workers and many others) to bear, forcing the offender to deal with his or her substance abuse problem. Drug courts work like a court diversion program in that, in exchange for a guilty plea, a client may enter the drug court and following drug court graduation expect a greatly reduced sentence. While in drug court clients are allowed to remain in the community while being supervised by various drug court staff.
Mission
According to its website, the mission of the drug court is "to hold criminal offenders accountable, to stop criminal activity related to the abuse of alcohol and drugs, and to increase the likelihood of successful rehabilitation of offenders through early, continuous, and intensive judicially supervised substance abuse treatment and other appropriate rehabilitation services that will allow participants to become more integrated in the community as productive and responsible members of society."
Juvenile courts
The juvenile drug courts are located at the district courts in Augusta, Bangor, Biddeford, Lewiston, Portland and West Bath/Wiscasset.
Key components
- Identification of juveniles for treatment and referral shortly after arrest;
- Judicial supervision of structured, community-based treatment;
- Regular court hearing to monitor treatment progress and compliance;
- A series of graduated sanctions and rewards; and
- Mandatory drug testing.
Referral process
Referral to the court can take place in these ways:
- A judge may refer a juvenile for eligibility screening.
- Any interested party may ask the Judge to refer a juvenile for screening.
- A juvenile may be referred for screening at any stage of the Juvenile Court process. Screening may occur shortly after the filing of a juvenile petition or at the time a motion to revoke probation is filed.
Qualification
To qualify for treatment in the juvenile drug court, a juvenile must:
- Be a youth whose offense occurred prior to their 18th birthday;
- Have a substance abuse problem;
- Be at risk to re-offend; and
- Be able to participate in treatment.
External links
Footnotes
Federal courts:
First Circuit Court of Appeals • U.S. District Court: District of Maine • U.S. Bankruptcy Court: District of Maine
State courts:
Maine Supreme Judicial Court • Maine Superior Court • Maine Business and Consumer Court • Maine District Courts • Maine Family Division • Maine Juvenile Court • Maine Probate Courts • Maine Small Claims Court • Maine Treatment Court
State resources:
Courts in Maine • Maine judicial elections • Judicial selection in Maine
