The Drug Court is a step closer to starting in Ballarat. The move is an effort to improve community safety and reduce the rate of offending.
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A stakeholder information session for a comprehensive overview of the specialist court will be held for Ballarat stakeholders this month.
The Drug Court program will supervise offenders trapped in the cycle of drug and alcohol dependency and substance-related offending.
The move into regional Victoria will focus on providing services to help with local challenges of drug-related crime in some areas.
Ballarat senior crime lawyer Scott Belcher said the introduction of a specialist drug court to the Ballarat Magistrates' Court would be extremely effective in complementing the city's specialist family violence court.
"There are clear cross over issues between ice and family violence so a collaborative approach by court will see other sentencing options available to magistrates," Mr Belcher said.
He said the drug and alcohol treatment order was similar to a revamped combined custody and treatment order.
"Jail first, then specifically targeted drug and alcohol rehabilitation programs upon release over a maximum two-year period. Failure to comply means back to jail," Mr Belcher said.
"Drug court proceedings will be similar to the Koori Court with its therapeutic communication and sympathetic tones towards the offender.
"The specialist courts are essential to dispense justice for the protection of current and future victims."
Existing Drug Court services in Melbourne has had a tangible impact on keeping people out of prison, keeping the community safe and delivering social and economic benefits.
The program attempts to address the underlying factors that contribute to offending, providing participants with an opportunity to receive treatment and stay drug and crime free or risk ending up in prison.
It is expected the expansion of the program regionally to Ballarat will provide capacity for 120 offenders.
The Victorian budget 2019-20 invested $35 million to facilitate the expansion of the Drug Court to Ballarat and Shepparton and the establishment of a County Court Drug Court pilot.
The state government said at last year's announcement, investing in programs that reduced the underlying causes of crime would reduce costs involved with the criminal justice system in the long term.
The Courier has previously reported Ambulance Victoria data shows ambulance call outs for alcohol and illicit drug related issues in Ballarat almost doubled in the past five years, and many cases would be reflected in the justice system.
The first Drug Court was established in Dandenong in 2002, followed by the establishment of a Melbourne location in 2017.
The Magistrates' Court of Victoria could not provide further details on Ballarat's Drug Court, including when it is scheduled to start operating.
MCV will host an information session for stakeholders in Ballarat on May 24.
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