The mission of the DUI Court is to provide a cost-effective alternative to incarceration through a long-term, judicially monitored regimen of treatment for non-violent substance dependent offenders. The program returns clean and sober individuals to the community after equipping them to maintain their sobriety and improve the quality of their lives.
The program follows a post-plea, pre-sentence adjudication model. Participants are admitted to the program when they enter guilty plea(s) to current eligible charges. Participants acknowledge prior to entering a DUI Court guilty plea that they will not be allowed to withdraw the guilty plea. Sentencing will be deferred pending completion of the DUI Court program. Upon successful completion of the program, including payments of fines, costs, and restitution, the participant’s charges will be dismissed and expunged. Failure to successfully complete the program will result in the participant being sentenced.
Participants may also be admitted to DUI Court as a condition of County Restrictive Probation (CRP) if they are pending revocation because they have been charged with new offense(s) or because of technical violation(s). If approved for DUI Court, the CRP judge will retain the participant in the CRP and make completion of DUI Court a requirement of the CRP sentence. Participants who enter DUI Court as a condition of CRP will not have the underlying charge(s) expunged.
The program is divided into five phases lasting a minimum of 15 months. The total time spent in the program is based on each participant’s progress. Each phase consists of specific treatment goals, activities and requirements that must be met before participants can move to the next phase. Moving into the next phase is not automatic and will be determined by the DUI Court judge according to individual progress, with recommendations from the DUI Court team.
Qualifying Factors for DUI Court
- Applicant is a Cumberland County resident, age 25 years or older.
- Applicant has open, unsentenced, criminal docket(s) in Cumberland County.
- Applicant has a verifiable history of substance abuse and offense(s) are related to substance abuse. Conduct giving rise to the crime must be attributable to characteristics of a substance use disorder.
- Has a non-violent criminal history.
- Voluntarily agrees to participate in, and be subject to rules, regulations and sanctions of DUI Court.
DUI Court will also consider an offender's prior record when determining eligibility. A record of excluded offenses will not result in immediate dismissal of the referral; however, it may be considered as an exclusionary factor. Final eligibility shall be at the discretion of the DUI Court Team.
To apply, please complete and sign the application and both waivers attached and return to:
Treatment Courts Application
Treatment Courts Application (Fillable)
- Criminal Justice Services
20 North Hanover Street, Suite 300
Carlisle, PA 17013
Fax: 717.240.7791
Email