Drug Court as an Alternative Sentencing Option for L.A. Offenders
If you are convicted of drug possession in Los Angeles, one potential alternative to jail time is drug court. Drug court was established to help offenders end drug abuse and stay out of jail. Individuals who have successfully completed a drug program are less likely to return to drug abuse than those who were simply incarcerated. This makes drug court a favorable alternative for the court and for the defendant.
However, drug court is not a viable option for all alleged drug offenders. It is typically only available for nonviolent offenders who have been arrested on suspicion of drug possession or for being under the influence of drugs. That means offenders previously convicted of a felony, charged with a violent crime, or accused of selling or transporting drugs will not be able to seek drug court instead of jail time. There are cases, however, in which a drug crime defense attorney can argue that his or her client only sold drugs to support their own habit, and should therefore be included in the program.
