Offenders across the west who commit crimes under the influence of drugs and alcohol could soon be heard by a proposed new drug court in Sunshine.
The state government’s inquiry into the supply and use of metamphetamines, particularly the drug ice, was tabled in parliament on Wednesday. It recommended expanding the Drug Court of Victoria to include drug courts in Sunshine, Melbourne, Geelong and Gippsland.
The Drug Court of Victoria, which is based in Dandenong, is a division of the Magistrates’ Court of Victoria. It sentences and supervises the treatment of offenders with a drug or alcohol dependency who have committed an offence under the influence of drugs or alcohol or to support a drug or alcohol habit.
The drug court was established in 2002 because the traditional criminal justice system did not seem to adequately deter offenders.
Under this model, the drug court aims to improve community safety by focusing on the rehabilitation of offenders with a drug or alcohol dependency and providing assistance in reintegrating them into the community.
Read the full story in next week’s edition of Star Weekly
