Automatic language translation
Our website uses an automatic service to translate our content into different languages. These translations should be used as a guide only. See our Accessibility page for further information.
The Drug Court provides judicial supervision for prisoner participants at the Compulsory Drug Treatment Correctional Centre (CDTCC). The Centre provides compulsory treatment and rehabilitation of drug offenders who are housed in a separate facility at Parklea.
Prisoners who are identified as eligible convicted offenders are referred to the Drug Court. Following a comprehensive suitability assessment by a multi-disciplinary team, the Court may make a Compulsory Drug Treatment Order (CDTO), referring the participant to the CDTCC.
The order is “compulsory” because neither the Crown or the offender has a right to object to (or appeal against) the referral to the Drug Court for consideration of a CDTO.
The Drug Court has responsibility for making determinations as to the progression and regression of participants through the three stages of the program. The Drug Court is also the Parole Authority for CDTCC participants.
Sentencing courts have a duty to ascertain whether the Drug Court might find a person eligible, and if so, refer the person to the Drug Court to determine suitability for a CDTO.
Referrals can be made by the following courts:
District Courts
Local Courts
Court of Criminal Appeal
Refer to Drug Court Regulation 2020, cl9.
The sentencing court must find the defendant to be an “eligible convicted offender” (S 5A, Drug Court Act 1998). The following eligibility criteria applies:
To check a residential catchment area, enter the address on the Office of the Local Government's Local Government Area locator.
If the offender meets the above criteria, the sentencing court refers them to the Parramatta Drug Court.
Further suitability criteria will also be considered at the Drug Court to find the offender an “eligible convicted offender”. The following eligibility criteria will be considered at the Drug Court:
A person is not an eligible convicted offender if:
If the offender is considered eligible and suitable, the Drug Court imposes a Compulsory Drug Treatment Order (CDTO).
The program comprises of three stages:
Each phase has a minimum six-month duration and will involve regular drug testing. The Drug Court has the power to make a progression order (moving up a phase) or regression order (moving back a phase).
A participants release to parole is instigated upon successful completion of all program phases.
An offender’s CDTO expires at the end of the term of the sentence or when the offender is released on parole, whichever occurs first. When a CDTCC participant becomes eligible for parole, the Drug Court becomes the authority that may make a parole order in relation to an offender.
The Drug Court may revoke an offender’s CDTO for any reason it sees fit. If a CDTO is revoked, the State Parole Authority is notified of the revocation and decides whether to grant parole.
No appeal lies against the Drug Court’s decision to revoke a treatment order.
Refer to s106, Crimes (Administration of Sentences) Act 1999.
Refer to Parramatta Drug Court Registry contact details.
14 Feb 2024
We acknowledge the traditional owners and custodians of the land on which we work and we pay respect to the Elders, past, present and future.