If you have been charged with a federal crime, you will want to ensure you are considering all potential options. Depending on the circumstances of your life, you might qualify for the Conviction And Sentence Alternatives Program, otherwise known as CASA, which can result in lower sentences. Keep reading to get the facts and then contact Chambers Law Firm at 714-760-4088 to speak with an attorney who can help you decide if this is the right option for you.
Program for Alternatives to Conviction and Sentence (CASA)
CASA is a post-conviction program for selected persons in the United States District Court that focuses on drug and mental health treatment, alternative punishments, and incentives to successfully address offender behavior, rehabilitation, and community safety. The federal courts in Los Angeles, Santa Ana, and Riverside all have CASA departments.
CASA was founded in April 2012 as a result of the District Court’s Substance Abuse Treatment and Reentry Program’s effectiveness (STAR). Individuals chosen for CASA enter a guilty plea under a plea agreement that requires them to participate in the CASA Program and specifies the benefit they will receive if the program is successfully completed: either a dismissal of the federal charges or a reduced sentence that does not include a prison sentence.
What to Expect if You Qualify for CASA
Participants in CASA are subjected to intense pretrial supervision, which includes frequent court appearances before the CASA program team and participation in CASA-designed programs to address the root reasons of the defendant’s criminal behavior. Substance addiction and/or mental health treatment, job or education programs, and restorative justice programs such as restitution and community service are all examples of such programs.
The majority of participants are subjected to random drug testing on a regular basis. Participation in the program is required for a minimum of 12 months, however it can sometimes be extended to two years. Defendants who do not complete the program satisfactorily face sentence before a CASA Judge on the offenses to which they pleaded guilty.
CASA is a cooperation between the United States District Court, the United States Pretrial Services Agency, the Federal Public Defender’s Office, the United States Attorney’s Office, and a number of community-based treatment providers and organizations.
Is This an Option for the Charges You Are Facing?
If you are facing federal charges, you want the best possible defense option. You can find that from Chambers Law Firm at 714-760-4088. Contact us now at 714-760-4088 to request a free legal consultation and find out what your best way forward might be.
