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Latrobe Valley has four times higher drug crimes than Ballarat where a Drug Court is located but has not Drug Court itself says Russell Northe

Member for Morwell Russell Northe has this week in Parliament questioned Premier Daniel Andrews on when a Magistrates Drug Court might be established in the Latrobe Valley.

By news@gippsland - 9th May 2022 - Back to News

Mr Northe used Question Time to highlight the staggering statistics that drug possession and other related offences in the Latrobe Valley as being more than three and four times higher than other regional areas such as Ballarat where a Drug Court is located.

A decision will be made by a magistrate in relation to eligibility and suitability based on a wide range of factors

Drug court expansion

The state government has expanded the Drug Court program into the regional communities of Ballarat and Shepparton for which Mr Northe commended the government; however given the high incidence of drug and alcohol abuse and associated crime statistics, Mr Northe said the Latrobe Valley was overdue in being the beneficiary of a Drug Court.

"As the Premier noted in his response to my questions, Drug Courts are successful because they apply a therapeutic approach to the person and treat them from a health perspective rather than simply locking people up" Mr Northe said.

"Subsequently, reoffending rates are reduced, people are rebuilding their lives and money is being saved. KPMG reports indicate that there has been a 31% lower rate of reoffending for Drug Court participants compared to those going through the normal court process." Mr Northe continued.

Same opportunities available

Mr Northe said he had previously raised the matter of a Drug Court for the Latrobe Valley on a number of occasions and in various forum and platforms, and that he was buoyed by some of the Premiers comments.

"The Premier indicated that a trial was being undertaken presumably on the Ballarat and Shepparton Drug Courts, but that he wanted the same opportunities available for everyone who needed it. What I can say is that there are many in the Latrobe Valley who want and need it now and that is backed up by the evidence, statistics and support provided by police and service providers who work in the drug, alcohol and justice space" Mr Northe said.

Receiving strong support

Mr Northe said, "In 2013 the Victorian Alcohol and Drug Association (VAADA) had called for the Drug Court model to be applied to all regions of Victoria. In my previous representations to the AttorneyGeneral I have received strong support from the Gippsland Primary Health Network, Australian Community Service Organisation (ACSO), Latrobe Community Health Services, Latrobe Health Advocate, Latrobe Health Assembly and Victoria Police for a Drug Court to be based in the Latrobe Valley."

"In 2021 Latrobe recorded 872 offences for drug possession at an LGA rate of 1148.7 per 100,000 population compared to Ballarat that recorded 305 offences for the same charge at an LGA rate of 269.1 per 100,000 population. Good on Ballarat for having a Drug Court in their community but the statistics clearly state that the Latrobe Valley desperately needs a Drug Court and urgently" Mr Northe concluded.

Imposing an order

The purpose of Drug Court is to impose and administer an order called a Drug and Alcohol Treatment Order (DATO). A DATO consists of two parts:

• Custodial: sentence of imprisonment - not exceeding two years - to be served in the community to allow the participant to receive drug and / or alcohol treatment
• Treatment and supervision: aims to address the participant's drug and / or alcohol dependency

The supervision of the participant is the responsibility of a Drug Court Magistrate. Support from case managers, clinical advisors, alcohol and drug counsellors, the police and Victoria Legal Aid is central in assisting participants achieve treatment and recovery goals. Participants on a DATO are required to:

• Attend and participate in regular appointments with the Drug Court
• Routinely submit to supervised drug and / or alcohol testing
• Attend Drug Court weekly
• Engage in drug and or alcohol, medical, psychiatric or psychological assessment and treatment
• Attend educational, vocational, employment or other programs
• Comply with conditions of the DATO, including residential and curfew conditions

Rewards and sanctions are used to encourage positive behaviour and address any non-compliance. Any non-compliance or reoffending may lead to the cancellation of a DATO.

Pictures from Magistrate's Court of Victoria website.

Source: www.gippsland.com

Published by: news@gippsland.com

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