The County Court of Victoria has launched a new division to give Victorians the chance to break the cycle of drug and alcohol dependency and reoffending.
Welcoming the County Court’s new Drug and Alcohol Treatment Court pilot project, Attorney-General Jaclyn Symes said it built on the achievements of the Dandenong and Melbourne Magistrates’ Drug Courts, which led to significant drops in reoffending by participants.
“As with the Magistrates’ Court program, the County Court Drug Court will deliver specialised treatment and support,” Ms Symes said.
“The program addresses the underlying factors that contribute to offending such as unemployment and isolation and helps people to stay drug and crime free,” she said.
“Participants must undertake alcohol and drug counselling, comply with drug testing and regularly attend court review hearings, case management and clinical advisor appointments to ensure they stay on track – giving them the best chance to overcome their dependency.”
Ms Symes said the pilot model had been proven to work, with an evaluation of the Dandenong Drug Court showing a 29 per cent reduction in reoffending two years after participants completed a Drug Treatment Order.
The Attorney-General said serious offending was also lower, with a 90 per cent reduction in trafficking offences and a more than 50 per cent drop in weapons violence.
County Court Chief Judge Peter Kidd said the Drug and Alcohol Treatment Court pilot program would be a welcome addition to the justice landscape and provide up to 70 participants with alternative rehabilitation pathways to break the cycle of addiction and offending.
“This provides judges with a new sentencing option for appropriate offenders, aimed at addressing the underlying causes of offending,” Chief Judge Kidd said.
In a statement, the County Court said Drug and Alcohol Treatment Orders were not available to those accused of violent or sexual crimes.
It said participants must choose to join the program and were subject to rigorous monitoring and evaluation over the course of the Order.
Further information on the Drug and Alcohol Treatment Court can be accessed at this PS News link.
