Many people who are arrested on drug charges serve time behind bars. Some are required to pay financial fines, which may be tied to the specific offense or the amount of drugs they had in their possession at the time.
However, West Virginia does have a drug court program, as do many other states. This is a closely monitored treatment program run by the courts themselves. For some individuals facing nonviolent drug charges—such as simple possession of controlled substances—drug courts may serve as an alternative to more traditional sentencing methods.
What is the goal of the drug court program?
The overall goal is to reduce the number of people who are arrested on drug charges and then re-offend. Recidivism is a major issue with drug use, often leading to individuals being arrested multiple times. However, drug courts have shown some promise in reducing these numbers.
The way they accomplish this is by addressing addiction issues. Participants must go through a structured treatment program where they are closely monitored and required to undergo regular drug testing. Ideally, this program helps them overcome their addiction to illegal substances.
Many individuals are arrested again after being released from jail simply because their addiction remains untreated. They may not intend to break the law, but without medical intervention and support, they continue to do so. In this sense, prison terms and financial fines often fail as deterrents, whereas the drug court program may offer a more effective solution.
This also demonstrates why it is so important for those facing criminal charges to understand all of the legal options available to them.