2021 House Bill 5482

Remove restrictions on which defendants can use non-adversarial specialty courts

Introduced in the House

Oct. 27, 2021

Introduced by Rep. Gary Howell (R-82)

To make an exception to the rule that a criminal defendant referred to a “drug court” may not be a “violent offender,” as long as the judge and prosecuting attorney consult with any known victim first. (The bill does not state that the victim must agree.) These “specialty” courts offer treatment programs as an alternative to jail in a non-adversarial approach.

Referred to the Committee on Judiciary