The drug court program may be utilized as a disciplinary sanction for a violation of a condition of parole related to substance abuse for eligible offenses, or in a case where the offender has been tried for an eligible offense in the traditional manner, given either a deferred or suspended sentence, and has violated a condition of the sentence. The judge shall not order an offender into treatment within the scope of any drug court program without prior approval from the designated drug court team, or the district attorney if no team is designated. Any judge having a criminal case assigned where drug court processing appears to be more appropriate for the offender, may request a review of the case by the drug court team, or if no team is designated, a review by the district attorney and the defense attorney. If both the district attorney and the defense attorney or offender agree, the case may be transferred to the drug court program with the approval of a designated drug court judge. After a case has been transferred to the drug court docket, it shall continue with the designated drug court judge until the offender is revoked or released from the program. The offenders whose cases have been transferred from a traditional criminal case docket to the drug court docket shall be required to have a drug court investigation and complete the drug court process prior to placement in any treatment program authorized by this act.

Added by Laws 1997, c. 359, § 9, eff. July 1, 1997.