Drug Court of Victoria submission to National Ice Taskforce

Drug courts engage with people who have deeply entrenched and seemingly intractable drug or alcohol dependencies, often with associated mental health and other complex needs and who commit very serious drug related criminal offences. Drug court jurisprudence represents a fundamental shift in how courts address the issue of drug related offending.

The aim of this submission is to convey to the National Ice Taskforce (the Taskforce) an understanding of the Drug Court of Victoria (DCV), the role it plays in reducing licit and illicit substance abuse, including the abuse of methamphetamines, as well as reducing drug related crime and the burden of crime on the community.