Establishment — Maine Code § 421.

§ 421.. Establishment

1.  Programs.  The Judicial Department may establish substance use disorder treatment programs in the Superior Courts and District Courts and may adopt administrative orders and court rules to govern the practice, procedure and administration of these programs. Substance use disorder treatment programs must include local judges and must be community based and operated separately from juvenile drug courts.

2.  Goals.  The goals of the substance use disorder treatment programs authorized by this chapter include the following:

A. To reduce substance use and dependency among criminal offenders;   [PL 2017, c. 407, Pt. A, §2 (AMD).]

B. To reduce criminal recidivism;   [PL 1999, c. 780, §1 (NEW).]

C. To increase personal, familial and societal accountability of offenders;   [PL 1999, c. 780, §1 (NEW).]

D. To promote healthy and safe family relationships;   [PL 1999, c. 780, §1 (NEW).]

E. To promote effective interaction and use of resources among justice system personnel and community agencies;   [PL 2023, c. 522, §1 (AMD).]

F. To reduce the overcrowding of prisons; and   [PL 2023, c. 522, §2 (AMD).]

G. To ensure that substance use disorder treatment programs are available statewide and accessible to residents in rural areas of the State.   [PL 2023, c. 522, §3 (NEW).]

3.  Collaboration.  The following shall collaborate with and, to the extent possible, provide financial assistance to the Judicial Department in establishing and maintaining substance use disorder treatment programs:

A. District attorneys, the Department of the Attorney General and statewide organizations representing prosecutors;   [PL 1999, c. 780, §1 (NEW).]

B. Defense attorneys, including statewide organizations representing defense attorneys;   [PL 1999, c. 780, §1 (NEW).]

C. The Department of Corrections;   [PL 1999, c. 780, §1 (NEW).]

D. The Department of Health and Human Services;   [PL 1999, c. 780, §1 (NEW); PL 2001, c. 354, §3 (AMD); PL 2003, c. 689, Pt. B, §6 (REV).]

E. The Department of Public Safety;   [PL 1999, c. 780, §1 (NEW).]

F. The Department of Education;   [PL 1999, c. 780, §1 (NEW).]

G. The business community;   [PL 1999, c. 780, §1 (NEW).]

H. Local service agencies; and   [PL 1999, c. 780, §1 (NEW).]

I. Statewide organizations representing drug court professionals.   [PL 1999, c. 780, §1 (NEW).]