If your teenager is facing a drug-related charge in Cobb County, you may feel like the weight of the world is on your shoulders. It’s natural to worry about their future and wonder if there’s a way to help them learn from this experience without carrying a criminal record for the rest of their life.
The good news? Georgia law and Cobb County programs offer different pathways that are designed to rehabilitate rather than punish. These typically fall on in to one of two types of programs: pretrial diversion programs and drug court. These options can give young offenders a second chance—one that might just change their lives for the better.
Think of a drug diversion program as a fork in the road—one path leads to traditional court proceedings, while the other focuses on treatment, education, and community service. Pretrial diversion is the most common type of diversion program available.
In Cobb County, an example of this is the Superior Court Pretrial Diversion Program, which offers an alternative to traditional prosecution for adults (which in Georgia includes anyone 17 or older) facing felony charges. This program typically requires participants to complete community service, attend educational or counseling sessions, and pay any necessary restitution – with successful completion typically resulting in dismissed charges.
Drug court is a completely separate program from pretrial diversion. It’s an intensive, long-term treatment program supervised by the court for people struggling with substance abuse issues.
Drug court typically involves:
Drug court is generally more intensive and longer-term than pretrial diversion, focusing specifically on addressing substance abuse issues.
In Cobb County, two specialized court programs exist for substance abuse cases: the Juvenile Drug Treatment Court for youth under 17, and the Superior Court Drug Treatment Court for those 17 and older (who are treated as adults in Georgia) who are facing felony charges. Both programs focus on treatment and rehabilitation rather than punishment.
Georgia’s laws provide the groundwork for these programs, focusing on rehabilitation rather than punishment. Two critical statutes pave the way:
This statute empowers juvenile courts to create treatment court divisions. These specialized courts aim to rehabilitate young offenders through assessments, treatment plans, and supervision. It’s like giving kids a lifeline to pull themselves out of a bad situation.
While this statute isn’t exclusive to juveniles, it allows courts to establish drug court divisions focused on rehabilitation. Programs like the JDTC in Cobb County owe much of their structure to this law.
Both adult and juvenile court systems in Cobb County offer structured paths to rehabilitation while addressing the legal consequences of drug-related charges. Here’s how they work.
The Juvenile Drug Treatment Court is a bit like a boot camp for personal growth. It’s tough, structured, and requires commitment—but the rewards are worth it.
Your teenager might qualify for the JDTC if they:
The program has multiple phases, each designed to help participants make steady progress:
Parents aren’t just spectators—they’re part of the team. Family counseling and support at home play a big role in ensuring success.
For those 17 and older, the Superior Court Drug Treatment Court offers an intensive 18-24-month program with five phases of decreasing supervision. Participants must live in Cobb County, have a substance abuse disorder, and be facing non-violent felony charges. The benefits of completing drug court may include: reduced charges, eligibility for restricted or sealed records, less or no incarceration, as well as a more affordable treatment option.
The Superior Court Pretrial Diversion Program in Cobb County is for adult cases, which in Georgia means anyone 17 and older (since Georgia prosecutes individuals 17 and up as adults), where someone is facing a felony.
This program emphasizes accountability and rehabilitation. Participants are required to:
If they check all the boxes, charges may be dismissed, and records could be restricted from public view—a huge relief for families.
Eligibility hinges on the specifics of the offense and the individual’s history. An attorney can help you figure out if this is the right path for your teenager.
The appropriate program depends on several factors:
Pretrial Diversion May Be Appropriate If:
Drug Court May Be Appropriate If:
Here’s how to figure out if a drug diversion program is right for you or your teenager:
Most people are not prepared to navigate the legal system on their own. Our experienced criminal attorneys can be your guide, helping you:
Seeing your teenager face a drug-related charge can be one of the scariest moments of parenthood. But remember, a mistake doesn’t have to define their future. Programs like the Juvenile Drug Treatment Court or the Pretrial Diversion Program in Cobb County are there to help young people turn things around.
With the right support and legal guidance, your teenager can move past this chapter and step into a brighter future. Ready to explore your options? Contact our office today to learn how we can help.
Ghanouni Teen & Young Adult Defense Firm
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