Drug Team
Brent A. Johnson - (Deputy)
Team Members
| Christina Brady | William Carrow |
Edwin Consolvo |
Hilary Mastio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Janet Westbrook |
|---|
The Drug Team prosecutes all offenses involving the possession, manufacturing and sale of prohibited Schedule I and II controlled substances. Common drugs that are recovered in criminal arrests include cocaine, heroin, ecstasy, and methamphetamines. The team also prosecutes felonies involving marijuana, prescription fraud, and drug embezzlement. In addition to its prosecution duties, the team is involved in the civil forfeiture of assets seized during drug-related arrests and the Drug Court Program, an intensive rehabilitative program with the goal of preventing recidivism.
Attorneys assigned to the Drug Team are familiar with various programs throughout the city and Commonwealth to assist defendant-users in beating their addiction to illegal drugs within the justice system. These attorneys also work closely with the Norfolk Police Department to review where drug offenses are frequently occurring in the city so as to better prosecute and remove drug dealers from our streets and neighborhood.
NORFOLK’S DRUG COURT PROGRAM
The Norfolk Circuit Court, in conjunction with the Norfolk Commonwealth’s Attorney’s Office and other local agencies, operate a very active Drug Court program. This program is designed for non-violent offenders whose involvement with the criminal justice system is due primarily to their substance addiction. Applicants identified for the Drug Court program are identified as soon as possible after arrest and, if accepted into the program, are referred immediately to a multi-phased treatment program. The program requires multiple weekly (often daily) contact with the treatment provider for counseling, therapy, and education; frequent urinalysis; frequent status hearings before the Drug Court judge; and a rehabilitation program including vocational, educational, family, medical, and other support services.
By diverting arrestees with substance abuse problems into Drug Court, the intention is to reduce drug use, lower recidivism, speed case processing, impact jail overcrowding, and improve cost effectiveness of services. The Drug Court program lasts five to 12 months, and is followed by gradually less restrictive supervision, with the goal of assisting substance abusers in making long term sobriety an attainable life-long goal.