A young mother in South Carolina was recently arrested after testing positive for drugs shortly after giving birth. The baby is also said to have tested positive for drugs. She is now facing both drug and child neglect charges as a result. If the accused meets all of the necessary qualifications, she may be able to have her case moved to drug court.
According to news reports, a warrant was put out for a 26-year-old woman after she and her infant had positive drug tests in January. Cocaine and opiates were found in the baby, and the accused was found to have cocaine in her system. The mother was arrested in early February.
Few other details about this case have been reported. It is unknown if bond has been set or if the accused will continue to be held by authorities. There have also been no reports of court dates regarding this matter.
There is a lot on the line in this case, as the accused is likely to lose her parental rights and could face significant consequences if she is convicted. However, in South Carolina, non-violent drug offenders may be able to have their criminal cases moved to drug court. Drug court is a supervised treatment program that, if completed, allows its participants to avoid jail time and other criminal consequences and receive the real help they need to beat their drug addictions. In this case, if this option is deemed in the best interests of the accused, she may make a formal request to have her case transferred to this program. In doing so, not only can she get on the road to recovery, but she can also take the steps necessary to preserve her parental rights.
Source: wistv.com, “Sumter baby tests positive for drugs”, Warren Stocker, Feb. 11, 2017