PUBLIC SAFETY EMPLOYEES TREATMENT COURT PROGRAM DEFINED; PROCEDURES FOR CERTAIN DEFENDANTS

(a) In this chapter, "public safety employees treatment court program" means a program that has the following essential characteristics: (1) the integration of services in the processing of cases in the judicial system; (2) the use of a nonadversarial approach involving prosecutors and defense attorneys to promote public safety and to protect the due process rights of program participants; (3) early identification and prompt placement of eligible participants in the program; (4) access to a continuum of alcohol, controlled substance, mental health, and other related treatment and rehabilitative services; (5) careful monitoring of treatment and services provided to program participants; (6) a coordinated strategy to govern program responses to participants' compliance; (7) ongoing judicial interaction with program participants; (8) monitoring and evaluation of program goals and effectiveness; (9) continuing interdisciplinary education to promote effective program planning, implementation, and operations; (10) development of partnerships with public agencies and community organizations; and (11) inclusion of a participant's family members who agree to be involved in the treatment and services provided to the participant under the program. (b) If a defendant successfully completes a public safety employees treatment court program, after notice to the attorney representing the state and a hearing in the public safety employees treatment court at which that court determines that a dismissal is in the best interest of justice, the court in which the criminal case is pending shall dismiss the case against the defendant.