Monitoring compliance with the program

The court closely monitors all participants. The Drug Court team meets before Court each day to receive reports from treatment providers and Community Correction Officers to discuss the participants who will be appearing that day. The team consists of the:

• Judge
• Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) solicitor
• Police Prosecutor
• Clinical Nurse Consultant
• Legal Aid solicitors
• Community Corrections Division Co-ordinator
• Registrar of the Court.

In the light of this discussion, the judge then speaks to each participant about his or her progress.

Rewards and sanctions

Rewards

The Drug Court Act 1998 allows the court to confer rewards on a participant when they maintain a satisfactory level of compliance with their Drug Court program. Rewards may be simply a round of applause, or perhaps permission to work - even during Phase One (Refer to the For participants webpage).

Rewards can include:

• special privileges such as being allowed to seek and take part in employment
• a change in the frequency of counselling or other treatment
• a decrease in supervision
• a decrease in the frequency of testing for drugs
• a change in the nature or frequency of vocational and social services which the participant is required to attend.

Sanctions

Sanctions may be imposed on a participant who fails to comply with the program. Participants are informed of the types of behaviour that can attract rewards and sanctions. The most severe form of sanction available to the court, short of program termination, is a custodial sanction of up to 14 days. Community-based sanctions, such as increased supervision or community work, are also available to the court.

Sanctions can include:

• withdrawal of privileges
• an increase in the frequency of counselling or other treatment
• an increase in supervision
• an increase in the frequency of testing for drugs
• imprisonment in a correctional centre
• a change in the nature or frequency of vocational and social services which the participant is required to attend.