Drug Court Victoria. Katharine Biffin Program Manager Drug Court Melbourne May 2018

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1 Drug Court Victoria Katharine Biffin Program Manager Drug Court Melbourne May 2018

2 Drug Court of Victoria Drug Court is a division of the Magistrates Court Started 2002 in Dandenong March 2017 in Melbourne Melbourne has 2 Courts Participants of the program are seen at an office called Drug Court House, Court Reviews are held at Magistrates Court.

3 History of Drug Courts 1989 Florida was the first Now 3,400 Drug Courts in the USA Also in 20 other countries In Australia - Vic, Tas, QLD, SA, ACT (soon). Victoria has the largest Drug Court now, total capacity 230 participants

4 What Does the Drug Court Do? Administers Drug Treatment Orders (DTOs). A DTO is a sentencing order: s18 Z Sentencing Act Uses the coercive force of the law with the best treatment options available

5 Who is eligible for a DTO? Serious offenders whose crimes are drug or alcohol related Facing jail sentence up to 2 years If not serious enough for jail, no DTO Must live in Drug Court catchment area Must be pleading guilty No current sex offences or serious violent offences

6 DTO Two main aims 1. Rehabilitation of participants Treatment for drug and/or alcohol addictions Address criminal behaviour Health (mental and physical) interventions Stable accommodation Reintergration with family and life outside prison and drug use Training and employment.

7 DTO - Two main aims 2. Increase community safety Reducing crime Less victims Less trauma Reducing cost Less burden on police, courts, health, prisons, welfare systems, families and individuals

8 What is the chemistry that makes DTOs work? There are four characteristics of a DTO that deliver the results: 1. Coercion 2. Intensive support and treatment 3. Supervision 4. Behaviour modification principles

9 1. Coercion The person is given a jail sentence which can be served in the community (as long as there is compliance)

10 2. Intensive Support Comprehensive AOD assessments Criminogenic needs assessments Clinical needs addressed substance and alcohol use, mental illness, acquired brain injury, intellectual disabilities. Physical health Accommodation Reconnection with family Referrals for specialist assessment and treatment

11 3. Supervision Corrections Victoria Provide criminogenic needs assessment and interventions Weekly appointments with case manager Weekly Court reviews with the Drug Court Magistrate Home visit in first 3 months Victoria Police Dedicated Drug Court Vic police lawyers who know the participants Provide information to the team about any new charges or participants breaching curfew Minor reoffending does not necessarily mean DTO cancellation

13 4. Behaviour Modification INCENTIVES Rewards for positive behaviour (eg attending appointments, court, admitting drug use) Can range from applause from Magistrate, Police, Lawyers, team and other participants to having a prison sanction day removed. SANCTIONS For not complying with (not attending, not admitting drug use, antisocial behaviours) Range from homework tasks to community work days up to prison days. Collect a tally, once have 7 prison days the person goes to custody 1 week

14 The Drug Court Team Magistrate Participant Program Manager Court Registrar and Court clerks Case Managers (Corrections Victoria) Clinical Advisors (Magistrates Court Victoria) Housing Assistance Team (Launch in Melbourne, WAYSS in Dandenong) AOD Counsellors (onsite at Melbourne Odyssey & Regen) Victoria Police Lawyers Legal Aid Lawyers

15 DTO Structure: Three Phases Two year order (maximum) Phase 1. Stabilisation at least 3 months Phase 2. Consolidation at least 3 months Phase 3. Re-integration at least 6 months

16 Phase 1 - Stabilisation Required every week to attend: Appointment with Case Manager Appointment with Clinical Advisor Session with AOD Counsellor Court review Housing worker (if needed) Appointments as directed (GP, rehab info sessions, NA, other AOD services, mental health appointment etc) 3 supervised urine tests at the Court

17 Phase 2 - Consolidation Required to attend: Case Manager fortnightly AOD Counsellor fortnightly Court review fortnightly Clinical Advisor as required Treatment planning meetings as required Housing worker as required Attend external appts as directed Supervised (random) urine screens 2 x week

18 Phase 3 - Reintegration Every month required to attend: Case Manager AOD Counsellor Court Review Supervised urine test 2 x week (random) Clinical Advisor as needed Ancillary Services as required Treatment Planning Meetings

19 What the research shows about Drug Court Vic 2015 Evaluation KPMG findings

20 Drug Court Dandenong outcomes 40% completion rate Recidivism reduced by 29% over 2 years Severity of reoffending reduced by 90% for trafficking offences and 54% in violence/weapon offences Saving of $145,000 per participant per year in prison costs Saving $1.2 million in recidivism prison costs over 2 years Increasing community safety through improving health and wellbeing of DC participants

21 Rehabilitation measures AOD how did we go? Participants showed a significant reduction in drug & alcohol risk. Urinalysis testing provides evidence that the DCV is effective in reducing drug & alcohol usage and risk levels. amphetamine using clients actually performed slightly better than nonamphetamine using clients. KPMG 2014

22 Rehabilitation measures Physical health how did we go? 54% of Participants showed pronounced & measurable reduction in medical risk. The evidence indicates that the DCV program is very effective in reducing the levels of medical risk. KPMG 2014

23 Rehabilitation Mental Health how did we go? 54% of Participants showed a significant & measurable reduction in psychiatric risk. The DCV program is effective in reducing the levels of psychiatric risk however 16% (of the 54%) require further support to improve mental wellbeing. KPMG 2014

24 Completion of a DTO 17% of participants graduate: Drug free, crime free, employed. Another 23% complete the two year order: Demonstrated reduction in drug use & criminal behaviour

25 What are the other findings? Improved family & social relationships Improved rates of education & employment Improved housing stability Improved motivation to change Improved consequential thinking Improved time management & accountability.

26 Reducing Crime how did we go? Frequency of reoffending: 24 months post DTO, drug court participants showed a reduction in reoffending of 34% compared to the control group. KPMG 2014

27 Reducing Crime how did we go? Severity of reoffending: Drug court participants showed a 67% reduction in more serious offences Drug trafficking offences reduced 90% amongst the drug court cohort and increased 70% amongst the control cohort. KPMG 2014

28 $$$ Money saving talks For every $1 spent on Drug Court, community benefits to $5.81 Acumen Alliance, Benefit and Cost Analysis of the Drug Court Program, January 2005 Overall, the cost benefits are up to five times those of jail sentences Prof Arie Freiberg, Monash University Dean of Law, Herald-Sun, 27 th August 2007 $145,000 saved per participant per year in imprisonment costs $1.2 million saved in recidivism related imprisonment costs over two years

29 Annual Financial Bottom Line: Dandenong Saving to Corrections: $3.8m Cost of running the court: -$3.2m Profit: $0.6m A return on investment of 118%!

30 How to refer to Drug Court Melbourne Drug Court referrals Drug Court Registry Team Ph: or Dandenong Drug Court referrals Ph: or

31 Questions? Katharine Biffin Program Manager Drug Court Melbourne

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