Plan to expand drug courts is shelved

PLANS to extend the drug court system nationwide have been put on hold because Government officials believe it has not been successful.

The system, which deals with drug abusers by offering rehabilitation instead of jail, has resulted in just five offenders successfully completing their sentence.

A drug court has been running in Dublin’s north inner city for over a year on a pilot basis. Former Justice Minister John O’Donoghue, who launched the initiative in early 2001, said it would be extended nationwide if it proved successful.

The primary aim of the court was to reduce crime through rehabilitation, as many drug users are repeat offenders.

However, of the 88 referrals to the system, 37 were not deemed suitable, 14 dropped out of the programme, while another 33 are still either being assessed or in various stages of completion of the course.

While Department of Justice officials are disappointed with the results, they say they want to extend the model on a wider basis once they are confident they system works.

A second drug court is to be established in the Dublin 7 area of the north-inner city on a pilot basis to see if a more successful model can be established.

A spokesman for the Courts Service yesterday defended the initiative’s track record and said it was an extremely demanding course which many did not qualify for.

Many offenders have said they found it difficult to complete the programme when they were surrounded by drugs and pushers in their neighbourhoods.

To be eligible an offender must have been found guilty of a non-violent drug-related offence in the District Court that would normally warrant imprisonment.

An offender, having voluntarily expressed a wish to be admitted to the drug court, is assessed for suitability. This is carried out by a court probation officer in consultation with the treatment providers and, if accepted, the offender must agree to a special treatment programme.

Professionals from the local health board, FÁS, the Department of Education and the Probation and Welfare Service are usually involved in the programme.

The offender must appear regularly before the courts so their progress can be measured. If they are stabilised, they progress onto rehabilitation with the ultimate goal of entering employment or education.

The system also saves money as it costs more to keep an offender in prison.