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Drug Court
It will be seen at once that these
tools are already available but,
uniquely, the Drug Court Sheriff
will, with the offender’s consent,
meet the various agencies involved
at pre-court review meetings
where progress or lack of it will be
discussed as a team and solutions
sought to problems such as by
increasing the frequency of testing.
Where an offender has done well a
range of rewards may be available
and these will be developed as we
go along. The Sheriff will have the
final say but this team approach is
one of the fundamental features of
Drug Courts and a major
contributor to their success.
As it happens the
team has had
s e v e r a l
opportunities to
blend and to learn
about each other’s
disciplines thanks
to the attendance
of many of us at an
international Drug
Court conference
in Toronto last
September followed by an intensive
three-day training seminar.
Members of the team have visited
the Dublin Drug Court and we will
be updating our training on a
regular basis in order for the
lawyers to learn more about
addiction, its causes and treatment
and for the social workers, medical
personnel and addiction workers to
learn from each other and from us.
Resort will be had, where
appropriate, to the provisions anent
amendment of DTTO’s and
probation in the 1995 Act (Ss.234E-
F, S.231 and Schedule 6) as well as
to those provisions relating to
e:
We do not expect
miracle cures and
recognise that relapse
into drug abuse
will be common
Sheriff.HMatthews@scotcourts.gov.uk
breaches but no decision adverse to
the offender will be made at a precourt
hearing. Any such matter will
require to be aired in open court.
We do not expect miracle cures
and recognise that relapse into drug
abuse will be common but we do
expect the offenders to be honest
with us, to turn up for their
appointments, to participate in the
counselling sessions and to refrain
from further offending.
These are early days but we are
already having to deal with
problems.
It is not always easy in a busy court
like Glasgow to have meetings start
on time with all of
the agencies
present, not all of
the assessments
have been
completed on time
and while provision
has been made for
Legal Aid cover it is
not entirely clear
how that is going
to work in practice.
In addition not
everyone is as yet familiar with the
criteria for inclusion.
The Drug Court team consisting of
representatives of the various
agencies involved will be meeting
on a regular basis to look at these
and other problems and we will be
glad to hear of any difficulties or
suggestions.
This is no panacea but we think
that this project can make a
difference not only to some of
those who are unfortunate enough
to be caught in the grip of drugs but
also to those who might otherwise
have been their victims.