(a) Notwithstanding another provision of law, with the consent of the state and the defendant, the court may elect to proceed in a criminal case under Alaska Stat. § 04.16.200(b) or (e), Alaska Stat. § 28.35.030, or 28.35.032, including the case of a defendant charged with violating the terms of probation, under the procedure provided in this section and order the defendant to complete a court-ordered treatment program. The state may not consent to a referral under this subsection unless the state has consulted with the victim and explained the process and consequences of the referral to the victim. A court may not elect to proceed under this section if the defendant has previously participated in a court-ordered treatment program under this section two or more times.

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Terms Used In Alaska Statutes 28.35.028

  • action: includes any matter or proceeding in a court, civil or criminal. See Alaska Statutes 01.10.060
  • Arrest: Taking physical custody of a person by lawful authority.
  • Bail: Security given for the release of a criminal defendant or witness from legal custody (usually in the form of money) to secure his/her appearance on the day and time appointed.
  • Conviction: A judgement of guilt against a criminal defendant.
  • Defendant: In a civil suit, the person complained against; in a criminal case, the person accused of the crime.
  • license: when used in relation to driver licensing, means a license, provisional license, or permit to drive a motor vehicle, or the privilege to drive or to obtain a license to drive a motor vehicle, under the laws of this state whether or not a person holds a valid license issued in this or another jurisdiction. See Alaska Statutes 28.90.990
  • person: includes a corporation, company, partnership, firm, association, organization, business trust, or society, as well as a natural person. See Alaska Statutes 01.10.060
  • Plea: In a criminal case, the defendant's statement pleading "guilty" or "not guilty" in answer to the charges, a declaration made in open court.
  • Plea agreement: An arrangement between the prosecutor, the defense attorney, and the defendant in which the defendant agrees to plead guilty in exchange for special considerations. Source:
  • Probation: A sentencing alternative to imprisonment in which the court releases convicted defendants under supervision as long as certain conditions are observed.
  • Restitution: The court-ordered payment of money by the defendant to the victim for damages caused by the criminal action.
  • state: means the State of Alaska unless applied to the different parts of the United States and in the latter case it includes the District of Columbia and the territories. See Alaska Statutes 01.10.060
(b) Once the court elects to proceed under this section, the defendant shall enter a no contest or guilty plea to the offense or shall admit to a probation violation, as appropriate. The state and the defendant may enter into a plea agreement to determine the offense or offenses to which the defendant is required to plead. If the court accepts the agreement, the court shall enforce the terms of the agreement. The court shall enter a judgment of conviction for the offense or offenses for which the defendant has pleaded or an order finding that the defendant has violated probation, as appropriate. A judgment of conviction or an order finding a probation violation must set a schedule for payment of restitution owed by the defendant. In a judgment of conviction and on probation conditions that the court considers appropriate, the court may withhold pronouncement of a period of imprisonment or a fine to provide an incentive for the defendant to complete recommended treatment successfully. Imprisonment or a fine imposed by a court shall comply with Alaska Stat. Chapter 12.55 or any mandatory minimum or other sentencing provision applicable to the offense. However, notwithstanding Rule 35, Alaska Rules of Criminal Procedure, and any other provision of law, the court, at any time after the period when a reduction of sentence is normally available, may consider and reduce the defendant’s sentence, including imprisonment, fine, or license revocation, based on the defendant’s compliance with the treatment plan; when reducing a sentence, the court (1) may not reduce the sentence below the mandatory minimum sentence for the offense unless the court finds that the defendant has successfully complied with and completed the treatment plan and that the treatment plan approximated the severity of the minimum period of imprisonment, and (2) may consider the defendant’s compliance with the treatment plan as a mitigating factor allowing a reduction of a sentence under Alaska Stat. § 12.55.155(a). A court entering an order finding the defendant has violated probation may withhold pronouncement of disposition to provide an incentive for the defendant to complete the recommended treatment successfully.
(c) If the defendant does not successfully complete the treatment plan imposed by the court under this section, the defendant’s no contest or guilty plea or admission to a probation violation to the court shall stand, and the sentence previously imposed shall be executed or, if sentence has not yet been imposed, sentence shall be imposed by the court.
(d) Notwithstanding any other provision of law to the contrary, the judge, the state, the defendant, and the agencies involved in the defendant’s treatment plan are entitled to information and reports bearing on the defendant’s assessment, treatment, and progress. The victim is entitled to periodic reports on the defendant’s progress and participation.
(e) In addition to other conditions authorized under Alaska Stat. Chapter 12.30 or Alaska Stat. Chapter 12.55, a court may impose the following conditions of bail or probation:

(1) require the defendant to submit to electronic monitoring;
(2) require the defendant to submit to house arrest.
(f) A court shall refer a defendant who is ordered to participate in a treatment program under this section to an alcohol safety action program developed and implemented or designated under Alaska Stat. § 47.37.040(21) for screening, referral, and monitoring.
(g) In addition to other conditions authorized under Alaska Stat. Chapter 12.30, a court may require the defendant to take a drug or combination of drugs intended to prevent substance abuse.
(h) In this section,

(1) “court-ordered treatment program” or “treatment plan” means a treatment program for a person who consumes alcohol or drugs and that

(A) requires participation for at least 18 consecutive months;
(B) includes planning and treatment for alcohol or drug addiction;
(C) includes emphasis on personal responsibility;
(D) provides in-court recognition of progress and sanctions for relapses;
(E) requires payment of restitution to victims and completion of community work service;
(F) includes physician-approved treatment of physical addiction and treatment of the psychological causes of addiction;
(G) includes a monitoring program and physical placement or housing; and
(H) requires adherence to conditions of probation;
(2) “sentence” or “sentencing” includes a suspended imposition of sentence as authorized under Alaska Stat. § 12.55.085.