Milestone for Queensland Drug Court

The Queensland Drug Court has reached an important milestone with more than 200 graduates from the Drug Court program.

Attorney-General and Justice Minister Kerry Shine said the Drug Court has the sentencing option to divert drug-addicted offenders from prison by suspending a term of imprisonment on the condition they undergo an intensive rehabilitation program.

“Upon reaching the milestone of 200 graduates, the Queensland Drug Court program has surpassed all other Drug Court programs operating in other States – that is NSW, Victoria, South Australia and Western Australia,” Mr Shine said.

“The program graduated its 100^th participant in June 2004 – four years after the initiative started as a pilot program in 2000. So the second 100 graduates have come in two years.”

“The Drug Court initiative started in June 2000 as a pilot program in south-east Queensland. A north Queensland pilot started in November 2002.”

“The Drug Court operates in five Queensland Magistrates Courts, Beenleigh, Southport, Ipswich, Townsville and Cairns.”

The establishment of the Drug Court was in recognition of the link between substance abuse and crime. Recidivism is significantly reduced for those who successfully complete the Drug Court program.

The Drug Court is delivered in a partnership between the Department of Justice and Attorney-General, Queensland Health, the Queensland Police Service and the Departments of Corrective Services, Communities and Housing.

30 November 2006
Media contact: Kirby Anderson 3239 6400 or 0418 197 350 or kirby.anderson@ministerial.qld.gov.au