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NSW legal profession welcomes Dubbo Drug Court
A $27.9 million investment to expand the NSW Drug Court into the Dubbo region has been hailed by the state’s legal body as a “welcomed acknowledgement” that the use of ice and other amphetamine substances is not just a criminal justice issue.
Naomi Neilson
The almost $28 million investment into the Dubbo Drug Court comes on top of the recently announced $3.6 million upgrade to the city’s courthouse, both announced by Deputy Premier John Barilaro who called it a “win” for the community that has been “brought to its knees after the devastation of bushfires and COVID-19”.
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The Drug Court has been a “tried and tested silver bullet” for addressing the abuse of highly addictive and dangerous illicit drugs, Mr Barilaro said. NSW Law Society president Juliana Warner mirrored this, referring to research that has consistently shown the Drug Court is more effective than prison in reducing drug-related crime.
“It can also play a part in reducing family and domestic violence, family breakdown, homelessness and other social issues,” Ms Warner said. “Expanding the Drug Court to Dubbo will ensure there is a greater number of drug dependent offenders in the local area offered the most appropriate treatment and rehabilitation.”
The Drug Court is currently active in Sydney, Parramatta and Toronto as a multi-agency response to drug-related offending. Participants undergo a 12-month program that includes mandatory detoxification in jail and drug testing up to three times a week in the community while also receiving interventions aimed at addressing the underlying causes of drug dependency and offending.
Attorney-General Mark Speakman said the expansion will help break the cycle of drug dependency: “This program helps participants address the root causes of their problems and ultimately overcome their addiction to make a positive contribution.
“The definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over and expecting different results. We know that sending problem drug users to prison and throwing away the key doesn’t solve drug addiction. If we’re going to tackle addiction and address drug use, a health response, not just a criminal justice response, is needed.”
Drug Court senior judge Roger Dive said the program uses an innovative and therapeutic approach to help hardened offenders with entrenched behaviours.
“This program saves lives, reunites families and has lasting positive impacts on individuals and the community,” Judge Dive said.
