A CRO charge is the bundle of fees and program obligations an Alabama court imposes when you’re convicted of DUI or another alcohol- or drug-related offense and ordered into the state’s Court Referral Officer program under the Mandatory Treatment Act of 1990. Expect two separate costs at minimum: an assessment fee set by the Administrative Office of Courts and approved by the Alabama Supreme Court,1Alabama Legislature. Alabama Code 12-23-12 – Court Referral Officer Assessment Fee plus the cost of the education or treatment level you’re assigned to, which runs $180 at the lowest level, $330 at the middle level, and a sliding-scale figure for clinical treatment at the top level.2Alabama Administrative Office of Courts. Educational Programs Drug testing fees land on top of that.
When a CRO Charge Gets Added to Your Case
Alabama requires CRO participation for anyone convicted of DUI or another alcohol- or drug-related offense covered by the Mandatory Treatment Act.3Alabama Legislature. Alabama Code 12-23-1 – Short Title DUI, public intoxication, and minor drug possession are the most common triggers, but a judge or prosecutor can also order CRO screening in any misdemeanor or felony where substance abuse played a role. In practice, the charge gets attached as a condition of probation.
What You’ll Actually Pay
The CRO charge is not one fee. It’s a stack, and that’s where people get surprised.
The first piece is the assessment fee. Alabama Code § 12-23-12 requires every person convicted of a qualifying offense to pay it, but the statute itself sets no dollar figure. The Administrative Office of Courts recommends the amount and the Alabama Supreme Court approves it, so the number can shift. Call the CRO office or the court clerk and ask for the current figure before your first appointment.1Alabama Legislature. Alabama Code 12-23-12 – Court Referral Officer Assessment Fee
The second piece is the program itself. Level 1 is $150 plus a $30 workbook, totaling $180. Level 2 is $290 plus a $40 workbook, totaling $330. Level 3 is treatment rather than a class, and the fee is calculated on a sliding scale based on your ability to pay.2Alabama Administrative Office of Courts. Educational Programs
The third piece is drug testing. Alabama Code § 12-23-7 requires defendants on probation for alcohol or drug offenses to participate in drug testing at their own expense, with the per-test cost varying by jurisdiction and provider.4Alabama Legislature. Alabama Code 12-23-7 – Mandatory Drug Testing at Own Expense for Person Convicted of Alcohol or Drug-Related Offenses and Placed on Probation or Parole; Treatment for Persons Who Fail Test; Indigents Not Required to Pay Payments usually go through the court clerk or the CRO office. Keep receipts; you’ll need them when your file closes out.
The Three Program Levels
You don’t pick your level. At your first appointment, the CRO administers an evaluation using a testing instrument approved by the Administrative Office of Courts, and the resulting score, combined with your criminal and substance use history, determines where you land.5Alabama Legislature. Alabama Code 12-23-4 – Court Referral Officers or Contracting Entities; Appointment; Supervision by Administrative Director of Courts and Circuit Judges; Compensation; Duties The CRO’s recommendation carries weight with the judge.
- Level 1 is a 12-hour educational course on substance abuse, legal consequences, and drug effects. It’s assigned when the CRO concludes you don’t have a substance abuse problem.
- Level 2 is a 24-hour interactive program that requires active participation and four self-help meetings completed before the final session. It covers patterns of use, family systems, and coping skills, and it’s assigned when a problem is found or presumed.
- Level 3 is a referral to treatment. Most people assigned here go to a community mental health center for a clinical assessment, then into inpatient treatment or an intensive outpatient program.
Program details, instructor requirements, and curriculum come from the Alabama Administrative Office of Courts.2Alabama Administrative Office of Courts. Educational Programs
Drug Testing While You’re Monitored
Testing is random and non-negotiable. The CRO can require a sample on short notice, and a missed test is treated the same as a failed one. A positive result pulls in more obligations: you’ll have to provide information for a treatment assessment, complete whatever treatment is recommended, and pay for the assessment, the treatment, and continued testing.4Alabama Legislature. Alabama Code 12-23-7 – Mandatory Drug Testing at Own Expense for Person Convicted of Alcohol or Drug-Related Offenses and Placed on Probation or Parole; Treatment for Persons Who Fail Test; Indigents Not Required to Pay The CRO reports all screening results to the court, so a bad result cannot be quietly absorbed.
What Noncompliance Costs
The CRO is required by statute to report violations to the prosecutor or the court.5Alabama Legislature. Alabama Code 12-23-4 – Court Referral Officers or Contracting Entities; Appointment; Supervision by Administrative Director of Courts and Circuit Judges; Compensation; Duties Missed appointments, skipped classes, a positive screen, or falling behind on fees can all trigger a formal violation report.
Once that report reaches the judge, you’ll be called in to explain. Failing to complete treatment and pay for it can be charged as a probation or parole violation.4Alabama Legislature. Alabama Code 12-23-7 – Mandatory Drug Testing at Own Expense for Person Convicted of Alcohol or Drug-Related Offenses and Placed on Probation or Parole; Treatment for Persons Who Fail Test; Indigents Not Required to Pay Depending on the underlying offense and what you did or didn’t do, the judge may add conditions, impose short-term jail time, or revoke probation outright, which usually means serving the original suspended sentence. A single missed appointment can escalate faster than most people expect.
Waivers If You Can’t Afford It
Alabama Code § 12-23-18 lets a person the court determines to be indigent request a waiver of some or all of the fees established under the Mandatory Treatment Act. The waiver lasts only as long as the inability to pay, and a judge can order community service in place of payment.6Alabama Legislature. Alabama Code 12-23-18 – Waiver of Payment of Fees for Indigent Persons
Drug testing has the same carve-out. Section 12-23-7 says indigent defendants are not required to pay for drug testing or monitoring provided by court referral officers.4Alabama Legislature. Alabama Code 12-23-7 – Mandatory Drug Testing at Own Expense for Person Convicted of Alcohol or Drug-Related Offenses and Placed on Probation or Parole; Treatment for Persons Who Fail Test; Indigents Not Required to Pay Level 3 treatment follows the same rule: no fee if the judge formally declares you indigent, though the program can seek payment later if your situation improves.2Alabama Administrative Office of Courts. Educational Programs The important step is getting the indigency finding on the record. Raise it with your attorney or the judge before the fees start accumulating.
What Completion Does and Doesn’t Do
Completion means finishing every class hour or treatment session, passing every required drug test, keeping every check-in, and paying every fee or having it waived. The CRO documents your progress and reports your status to the court.5Alabama Legislature. Alabama Code 12-23-4 – Court Referral Officers or Contracting Entities; Appointment; Supervision by Administrative Director of Courts and Circuit Judges; Compensation; Duties
Finishing satisfies the CRO-related conditions of your probation. It does not automatically remove the underlying conviction from your record, and the conviction will keep showing up on background checks unless you pursue a separate expungement or record-sealing process where eligible. Ask your attorney what your options are before assuming the program resolves everything.