Summary
The Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court's 2018 decision affirmed a probation revocation based on fentanyl use. The court determined that relapse constituted a willful violation of probation, even with evidence presented characterizing addiction as a brain disease. The court's interpretation of the drug-free probation condition emphasized its therapeutic aims.
Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court Case on Probation Violation
The 2018 Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court decision affirmed a probation violation based on fentanyl use. The court ruled that relapse constituted a willful breach of probation, even with evidence presented characterizing addiction as a brain disease. The court interpreted the probation's drug-free condition as inherently treatment-oriented, thus upholding the violation.
Massachusetts Supreme Court Case on Fentanyl and Probation
The Massachusetts Supreme Court addressed a 2018 case involving a probation violation due to fentanyl use. The court decided that a relapse constituted a deliberate violation of probation, even though the defendant argued that addiction is a disease affecting the brain. The court considered the requirement to remain drug-free as a form of treatment.
The Court Case
In 2018, a court in Massachusetts said someone broke their probation because they used fentanyl. Even though the person said addiction is a sickness, the court still said they had broken the rules on purpose. The court thought the rule about staying away from drugs was a way to help them get better.