Drug Court

• Agree to participate in drug court
• Are charged with a felony drug offense or a felony property offense in Chesterfield County or the City of Colonial Heights
• Can physically and mentally participate in drug court activities
• Have no prior convictions for felony violence, sex offenses or drug distribution
• Have stable transportation
• Live within 30 minutes of the Chesterfield Courthouse
• Meet DSM criteria for substance abuse dependence
• Persons who are 18 years or older

Participating in Drug Court is not just about staying clean, it is about getting your life back together. Being successful in drug court means you have an opportunity to:

• Achieve sustained sobriety
• Improve decision-making skills
• Mend family relationships
• Pay court costs, fees and restitution
• Provide access to community resources
• Secure and maintain employment
• Succeed in becoming a productive, responsible, law-abiding citizen within the community

To be successful in Drug Court, you must invest in yourself. Staff are available to assist you in navigating responsibilities that include:

• Developing a payment plan to pay fees/restitution where applicable
• Maintaining sobriety - two to four drug screens each week
• Reliable transportation and housing
• Securing and maintaining employment or consistent school attendance
• Treatment sessions - at least two to three times each week
  • Community support meetings
  • Family counseling
  • Group therapy
  • Individual therapy
  • Skills groups
  • Specialized groups
• Weekly court hearings

As designed, Drug Court is 12 months. The process is as follows:

1. Consists of five phases.
2. Each phase has specific treatment and behavioral goals/requirements that must be met to move to the next phase.
3. Participants move through the program at their own pace based on how quickly they meet their goals/requirements.
4. A graduated system of sanctions and incentives are incorporated into the program to address noncompliance issues or reward positive movement forward.

Step 1
The first step to being considered for Drug Court is review by the Commonwealth’s Attorney’s Office. Defense attorneys seeking additional information or request for case review may contact:

• Chesterfield Commonwealth’s Attorney’s Office - Geoff Easton - Phone: 804-748-1221
• Colonial Heights Commonwealth’s Attorney’s Office - Erin Barr - Phone: 804-520-9293

Step 2
The potential candidate will be interviewed/assessed by the Drug Court probation officer to determine appropriateness for the program. Upon completion of the assessment, the probation officer will advise the Commonwealth’s attorney and defense attorney of acceptance/non-acceptance.

Step 3
If accepted, a date to plead into the program will be set. If not accepted, the charge will continue to proceed through the traditional court process.

We encourage individuals who are interested in learning more about Drug Court to attend a session.

Drug Court is held each Wednesday from 8:30 a.m. to approximately 9:30 a.m. at:

Chesterfield Circuit Court
9500 Courthouse Road
Chesterfield, VA 23832

To schedule a visit, please contact the Drug Court administrator, Melanie Meadows, by phone at 804-717-6801 or by email.