Eligibility Criteria

Youth

• 14 to 17 years old
• Resident of Palm Beach County

Participation

• Program is voluntary
• Youth and Advocate agree to participate

Legal Status

Must meet ONE of the following criteria:

• 985.345 Case:
  • Has not previously been adjudicated for a felony; and
  • Is charged with a felony of the second or third degree for:
    1. Purchase or possession of a controlled substance under Chapter 893;
    2. Tampering with evidence;
    3. Solicitation for purchase of a controlled substance; or
    4. Obtaining a prescription by fraud;
• Deferred Prosecution Case:
  • Any filed Misdemeanor or non-violent, 2nd or 3rd degree Felony offense(s) where youth is not on Probation and WITH WRITTEN AGREEMENT FROM THE OFFICE OF THE STATE ATTORNEY where:
    1. There is evidence of a substance abuse problem; and
    2. Victim is in agreement (only on victim cases)
    3. Youth has not previously been enrolled in a diversion program for a felony non-drug offense
    4. Youth has not previously been found to have committed a non Chapter 893 felony
    5. Youth has not previously been found to have committed more than 2 felony drug offenses
• Probation Case:
  • Youth may be placed in Delinquency Drug Court as a condition of Probation or is currently on Probation and requests to modify Probation

Behavioral Health

• The following will most likely qualify youth for co-occuring track:

Bipolar and Related Disorders; Depressive Disorders; Anxiety Disorders; Obsessive Compulsive and Related Disorders; Trauma and Stressor-Related Disorders; Disruptive, Impulse-Control, & Conduct Disorders; ADD; ADHD

Exclusions

• Youth has previously participated* (signed contract) in any juvenile drug court
• Youth is charged with a firearm, sale of controlled substance*, or a sex offense

     *cases/charges may be reviewed on a case by case basis