Prison Versus Court Ordered Addiction Rehabilitation Program (Juanita Darling)

According to a study by the Government Accountability Office (GAO), prisoners wait months to enter addiction rehabilitation programs due to staff shortages and resource limitations. In the United States, the largest category of prisoners is that of drug users. In 2011, though over 31,000 inmates enrolled in rehabilitation programs, more than 51,000 were on waiting lists for the programs. Federal prisoners who complete residential drug treatment can shorten their sentences by a year. But with the long waiting lists, many federal prisoners don't enter rehabilitation until they have already served most of their sentences.

Mental Illness Heightens Risk for Addiction

Adults with mental illness are at higher risk for addiction than those without mental illness. More than 22% of adults with serious mental illness have addictions, while less than 6% of those without mental illness have addictions, according to a study by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Attending a court ordered addiction rehabilitation program can help those with addictions who also suffer from mental illness, whereas incarceration generally does not help people with mental illness get the treatment they need. In Broward County Marchman Act petitions can get these people the help they so desperately need.

Broward County Marchman Act Attorneys Can Help

Legal help is available for those who want to get help for loved ones under the Florida Marchman Act. Under this law, a person with an addiction can be ordered into treatment for 90 days with a possible 60-day extension. If the person does not complete rehabilitation, he or she could be incarcerated. The fact that the Marchman Act specifies serious consequences for those who do not complete rehab ensures that more people with addictions will make the commitment to completing a treatment program.

Invoking the Marchman Act Without an Attorney Is Risky

You do not have to have a lawyer with you to go through the hearing process used to assess a drug addict's risk and get a court order for rehabilitation, but it is wise to have one. The person you are trying to help can bring legal representation or have a court-appointed attorney whose job it is to work on behalf of the addict you're trying to help. The Marchman Act requires very specific actions and paperwork, and a small mistake can derail the whole process. A Broward County attorney experienced in Marchman cases can ensure that every procedure is followed correctly.

Incarceration Is Rarely the Answer

If you love someone with an addiction, waiting for that person to be arrested on drug charges is far from ideal. If they do jail time, the chances that they will get the addiction help they need are very slim. However, if a person is ordered into rehabilitation and faces the prospect of being jailed for failing to complete the program, the motivation is there to get clean and move forward with life. The Marchman Act was designed so that people with addictions can get actual help rather than risk the life-destroying consequences of untreated addiction.

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