While court is oftentimes viewed as a place where you go to be held accountable for your actions, punishment certainly isn’t the only goal of criminal court. While they do want you to atone for your actions, they also want to give you the tools to take positive steps in your life so that you don’t end up with more criminal charges down the road. One way that the justice system is trying to cut down on recidivism is through the development of hybrid court.
Hybrid court is sometimes an option for low level offenders convicted of non-violent crimes. The reason is it referred to as hybrid court is because it is open to people charged with alcohol or drug related crimes. Hybrid court is essentially the same as a DWI Court, but the hybrid model also accepts people facing non-violent drug charges. We take a closer look at the hybrid court model below.
The Benefits Of Hybrid Court
Many offenders who are eligible for hybrid court prefer this setting to a traditional court because they have a little more say in their outcome. If they are willing to commit to a structured recovery program, they can avoid more serious consequences like major fines or jail time. However, this doesn’t mean that the program is easy. An offender needs to commit to a number of probation-style guidelines over the course of many months in order to graduate from the hybrid court system. The most common guidelines they need to follow in order to pass the program include:
- Increased supervision/check-ins by a probation officer or similar law enforcement figure
- Random and scheduled alcohol/drug monitoring and testing
- Maintain residency or employment
- Submit to substance abuse counseling or classes
- Follow a curfew
- Adherence to driving restrictions (limited license, ignition interlock, etc.)
If a person fails to follow their guidelines, their admission into the hybrid court program can be revoked, meaning a suspended sentence can kick in or they can be referred to traditional court for sentencing. Many programs across Minnesota have solid program graduation numbers, with about two out of three participants successfully completing the program. Not only do more than half of participants graduate, but these offenders are much less likely to re-offend compared to individuals facing similar charges in traditional court.
Of course, just because you committed an alcohol- or drug-related crime does not mean that you are automatically eligible for hybrid court. If you have a history of violent crimes, you have any gang ties or if the judge feels that the public would be better off if you went to traditional court, you may not be admitted into a hybrid program. If you believe it could be a viable option for your case, talk with your attorney and see if they can recommend that your case be heard through the hybrid court system instead of traditional court.
For more information about these hybrid options, or to talk to a lawyer about a different criminal matter, reach out to Avery and the team at Appelman Law Firm today at (952) 224-2277.
