Published Thursday, 12 February, 2009 at 05:00 AM
Attorney-General and Minister for Justice and Minister Assisting the Premier in Western Queensland
The Honourable Kerry Shine
Drug Court marks 300th success story
The Queensland Drug Court recently reached a significant milestone with the 300th graduate from the program.
A 45-year-old woman who committed crimes to support her amphetamine addiction has completed the rehabilitation program through the South-East Queensland Drug Court in Ipswich.
The woman, who wishes to remain anonymous, was recognised at a recent graduation to mark her successful completion of the program after 15 months of intensive rehabilitation.
Attorney-General and Minister for Justice Kerry Shine said in addition to those who completed Drug Court rehabilitation, 118 others were currently participating in the Drug Court program as at the end of December 2008.
"Drug Court gives magistrates the option to divert drug-addicted offenders from prison by suspending a term of imprisonment on the condition they undergo an intensive rehabilitation program," Mr Shine said.
"Far from being soft on drug crime, this program is a rigorous one and participants have hanging over them the real prospect of being brought back before the magistrate and sent to jail."
Mr Shine said the Drug Court program was achieving successful outcomes not only for the graduates and their families but the community as a whole.
"The cycle of drug addiction and crime is being broken and independent evaluations of the program have reduced re-offending," he said.
"Every successful rehabilitation means there are fewer homes being broken into, fewer cars being stolen and lower levels of other crimes being committed by drug addicts to support their habit."
Mr Shine said 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," Mr Shine said.
"On average it takes 15 months for participants to successfully complete the program.
"Of the 300 graduates, 223 have come from the South-East Queensland program (Beenleigh 90, Ipswich 48, Southport 85) and 77 from North Queensland (Cairns 32, Townsville 45).
"The program's first participant graduated in August 2001, the 100th in June 2004, and the 200th in late 2006.
“These figures show an increase in the success rate of the Drug Court program in recent years,” he said.
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.
Media contact: Lisa Taylor, 3239 6400 or 0488 741689
A 45-year-old woman who committed crimes to support her amphetamine addiction has completed the rehabilitation program through the South-East Queensland Drug Court in Ipswich.
The woman, who wishes to remain anonymous, was recognised at a recent graduation to mark her successful completion of the program after 15 months of intensive rehabilitation.
Attorney-General and Minister for Justice Kerry Shine said in addition to those who completed Drug Court rehabilitation, 118 others were currently participating in the Drug Court program as at the end of December 2008.
"Drug Court gives magistrates the option to divert drug-addicted offenders from prison by suspending a term of imprisonment on the condition they undergo an intensive rehabilitation program," Mr Shine said.
"Far from being soft on drug crime, this program is a rigorous one and participants have hanging over them the real prospect of being brought back before the magistrate and sent to jail."
Mr Shine said the Drug Court program was achieving successful outcomes not only for the graduates and their families but the community as a whole.
"The cycle of drug addiction and crime is being broken and independent evaluations of the program have reduced re-offending," he said.
"Every successful rehabilitation means there are fewer homes being broken into, fewer cars being stolen and lower levels of other crimes being committed by drug addicts to support their habit."
Mr Shine said 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," Mr Shine said.
"On average it takes 15 months for participants to successfully complete the program.
"Of the 300 graduates, 223 have come from the South-East Queensland program (Beenleigh 90, Ipswich 48, Southport 85) and 77 from North Queensland (Cairns 32, Townsville 45).
"The program's first participant graduated in August 2001, the 100th in June 2004, and the 200th in late 2006.
“These figures show an increase in the success rate of the Drug Court program in recent years,” he said.
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.
Media contact: Lisa Taylor, 3239 6400 or 0488 741689