Drug Court

The Drug Court of Victoria supervises some offenders with a drug problem by placing them on an order known as a Drug Treatment Order (DTO). A DTO may be ordered for defendants who plead guilty to drug-related offences in the Magistrates' Court (other than sexual charges or assault charges involving injury to the victim) and who are facing jail sentences. For example, they may have committed dishonesty offences such as burglary and theft. A DTO will only be ordered after a detailed assessment by the Drug Court team as to the defendant's suitability.

A DTO has two parts:

a treatment and supervision part, usually for a period of two years, which can involve conditions such as not re-offending, taking part in drug testing and/or treatment, employment programs, restrictions on where you can live or who you can associate with and reporting regularly to the court; and
a custodial part, which is a term of imprisonment of up to two years, suspended while the defendant is complying with the treatment and supervision conditions of the DTO.

If the DTO is cancelled or breached, the custodial part will usually have to be served in prison.

The Victorian Drug Court is located at the Dandenong Magistrates' Court as a pilot program. It is possible for defendants suitable for DTOs who have charges listed at other Magistrates' Courts to have the charges transferred to Dandenong Drug Court, if this is done before pleading guilty.

For further information, contact the Drug Court (tel: 9767 1344) or look on the Magistrates' Court website at www.magistratescourt.vic.gov.au.