2005 Vermont Code - § 4251. — Pilot project for drug court initiative committees

§ 4251. Pilot project for drug court initiative committees

(a) Establishment. A pilot project creating drug court initiative committees is established for the purpose of developing an approach to provide accountability, assessment, and suitable services for persons who have been charged with committing a crime or a delinquent act and who have a substance abuse problem. Such an approach shall be applicable to defendants of any age, but there shall be an emphasis on providing coordinated services for youth under the age of 21. Committees shall be located in Chittenden, Rutland, and Bennington counties, and the court administrator may select up to three additional counties to participate in the project.

(b)(1) Committee composition. Each committee shall be composed of the following persons:

(A) a district court judge presiding in such county, appointed by the administrative judge;

(B) the family court judge presiding in such county, if the family court judge is different from the district court judge;

(C) a representative from the district office of the department of corrections appointed by the commissioner of corrections;

(D) the state's attorney;

(E) a representative appointed by the defender general from the district office of the office of the defender general, or in counties not served by a district office, an attorney under contract with the office of the defender general to perform legal services for the indigent;

(F) a representative from the district office of the department for children and families;

(G) a representative from the office of alcohol and drug abuse programs;

(H) two representatives from local substance abuse provider organizations, family counseling service organizations, or any other appropriate service providers, appointed by the office of alcohol and drug abuse programs; and

(I) two at-large members of the community, who shall be selected pursuant to subdivision (2) of this subsection.

(2) At the first meeting of each committee, the designated members shall select, by majority vote, two at-large members of the community to participate as members of the committee.

(c) Committee chair. Each committee shall be convened and chaired by the district court judge.

(d) Consultation with treatment organizations. Each committee shall consult with local substance abuse provider organizations, family counseling service organizations, and any other appropriate service providers to share information and develop essential communication and coordination between the criminal and juvenile justice systems and the treatment community.

(e) Report. On or before January 15 each year, the court administrator shall report to the general assembly on the progress and outcomes of each committee on achieving the goals of the pilot project.

(f) Sunset. This section shall sunset on March 1, 2007. (Added 2003, No. 54, § 11.)