This afternoon, State Attorney Andrew Warren announced a new program aimed to encourage treatment rather than jail-time for low-level drug offenders.
The Drug Education & Treatment Reducing Recidivism, or DETRR, is designed to help offenders charged with low-risk, non-violent offenses, according to a news release from the Hillsborough State Attorney’s Office.
Drug dealers and violent offenders are not eligible for the program.
There are three levels to the program. Level one applies to offenses of marijuana possession of 30 grams or less, and encourages offenders to seek treatment and requires them to remain arrest-free for six months. Level two is for first-time drug offenses other than 30 grams or less of marijuana and requires the offender to go to treatment and remain arrest-free for six months. The third level is for low-risk repeat offenses. This also requires the offender to remain arrest-free for six months as well as attend specific treatments such as cognitive behavioral therapy, and substance abuse and mental health treatment.
“Blindly locking up people who suffer from addiction undermines public safety—we can make our neighborhoods safer by attacking the root cause of the problem,” Warren said.
The program acknowledges treatment is more effective in preventing repeat offenses than incarceration. Treatment is also less expensive than jail or prison, helping taxpayers.
After participating in the specific program for an offense and staying arrest-free for six months, the offender's charge will be dismissed.
“Both research and common sense tell us there’s a major link between drug abuse and crime,” Warren said. “Taking a problem-solving approach to drug abuse prevents crime, saves money, and gives people suffering from addiction the help they need.”
Prior to this program, Hillsborough County offered different programs and treatments for minor drug-related offenses instead of jail time. DETRR is an expansion of those programs, referred to as the “younger sibling” of the county’s Drug Court. While Drug Court targeted those who were high-risk to repeat offenses, DETRR is geared more towards getting help for low-risk repeat offenders.
The Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office launched another leniency program in September, the Juvenile Arrest Avoidance Program.
JAAP similarly offered treatment rather than jail time for juvenile first-time offenders.
Both Hillsborough County Sheriff Chad Chronister and Warren are running for reelection in November. Their campaigns come at a time when many Americans are calling for prison reform and defunding of the police.
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This article appears in Oct 29 – Nov 4, 2020.