E3SHB 3900 provides the means for defense attorneys or the court to make a motion to consider eligible youth for a Chemical Dependency Disposition Alternative (CDDA) option.

Assessment
Following the motion or Court’s Order, the youth is assessed for chemical dependence. If found to be chemically dependent and amendable to treatment, the court may suspend its order on confinement and the youth enters an intensive treatment program.

Treatment
When the youth completes 12 months of treatment, the case is closed. If the youth fails to complete, or violates other conditions, the court may revoke the CDDA status and impose the original sentence.

Short-Term Program
CDDA was designed to offer an alternative sentence that deals directly with chemical dependency issues in a proactive way, rather than simply punishing the offender with incarceration and not addressing the drug / alcohol issue. The long-range purpose is to move chemically dependent youth from criminal behavior to productive citizenship.