Recovery Court Assessment Request

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Eligibility


Drug and Alcohol Treatment-based sentences with restrictive conditions are directed toward offenders falling within levels 3 or 4 of the PA Sentencing Guidelines who have a substance use problem. Offenders should submit an application no more than 30 days after formal arraignment. 
  • Offender must fall within Levels 3 or 4 of the Sentencing Guidelines. Please refer to the modified Basic Sentencing Matrix and RPP Table.*
  • Offender must have a substance use problem. 
Priority will be given to Level 3 & 4 Offenders charged with drug offenses or retail theft. All other charges will be considered based on availability of program funding. 

Mandatory drug sentences will be considered.
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Ineligibility


A person with a current conviction or with a prior conviction within the past ten years of any of the following offenses is ineligible:
  • Murder, 18 Pa.C.S. § 2502
  • Voluntary Manslaughter, 18 Pa.C.S. § 2503
  • Aggravated Assault, 18 Pa.C.S. § 2702
  • Assault by Prisoner, 18 Pa.C.S. § 2703
  • Assault by Life Prisoner, 18 Pa.C.S. § 2704
  • Kidnapping, 18 Pa.C.S. § 2901
  • Statutory Sexual Assault, 18 Pa.C.S. § 3122.1
  • Arson and Related Offenses, 18 Pa.C.S. § 3301
  • Burglary (F1), 18 Pa.C.S. § 3502
  • Robbery, 18 Pa.C.S. § 3701
  • Theft by Extortion, 18 Pa.C.S. § 3923
  • Incest, 18 Pa.C.S. § 4302
  • Escape, 18 Pa.C.S. § 5121
  • Drug Trafficking, 18 Pa.C.S.§ 7508
  • Trafficking Drugs To Minors, 18 Pa. C.S. §6314

NOTE:

 
A person who has ever been convicted of, or adjudicated delinquent of, any offense requiring registration as a sexual offender is ineligible.

Procedure


An offender will be identified as a candidate for Recovery Court by the Recovery Court Probation Officer. This will be determined by completing the Guideline Sentence Form and information from the offender and/or defense counsel regarding drug/alcohol use. 

Referrals for assessment can be made to the Probation Officer using the Request for Recovery Court Assessment
.
The offender will have a clinical assessment (to determine if they have a substance use problem) conducted by the County Department of Drug and Alcohol or their contracted provider. The Probation Officer will submit the assessment and recommendation for Recovery Court
participation to the District Attorney’s office. 

Application should be made within 30 days of formal arraignment. If approved, the District Attorney’s Office will offer a plea bargain consistent with the treatment recommendation in the clinical evaluation and based on the revised Recovery Court guidelines and RPP table. 

The offender will have 2 weeks to accept the plea offer. Recovery Court sentencing will be scheduled on Friday mornings at 9:00 a.m. All participants are required to complete 90 days of SCRAM (secured continuous random alcohol monitor). Fees will be assessed on a sliding scale.