TREATMENT ALTERNATIVE TO JAIL FOR YOUNGSTERS

An expansion of the drug court system to include children and
juveniles has been overwhelmingly endorsed by the Drug Summit as an
alternative to jail for young offenders. In addition, delegates last
night agreed to the establishment of the State's first independent
advisory body to review the Government's drug policies and provide
expert advice.

The recommendations were among more than 160 agreed by the summit
yesterday. They include law reform and a vastly expanded commitment to
treatment and education programs.

The 135 MPs and 80 non-parliamentary delegates spent much of the
afternoon and evening debating the resolutions agreed by 11 working
groups.

Following the early success of the adult drug court, which offers
offenders the opportunity to go into treatment programs instead of
jail, there has been a strong push for a separate court to be
established within the children's court system to deal with young offenders.

After initially being approved by the summit, the children's drug
court was challenged by a group of delegates, including former Labor
MP Ms Ann Symonds, when it re-emerged in the resolutions of a second
working group. But in a final vote the proposal was supported by the
vast majority of delegates.

There was also almost unanimous support within the summit for a
dramatic expansion of treatment and rehabilitation programs for addicts.

The summit also agreed to:

Expand needle and syringe programs. Establish specific programs to
develop and put in place treatments for cannabis, cocaine and
amphetamine dependency. Increase detoxification and rehabilitation
places for adults and juveniles.

Review laws covering electronic surveillance, listening devices and
search warrants to improve police powers to tackle drug
traffickers.

Expand detoxification and treatment programs in prisons and pilot
drug-free zones. Consider allowing a large number of drug-affected
offenders to be assessed for home detention.

Create regulatory standards to cover methadone, rapid detoxification
and other drug and alcohol treatment clinics. Establish minimum
training standards with national accreditation for all professions and
agencies providing drug and alcohol prevention, rehabilitation and
management services. Provide general health workers with a drug and
alcohol component of their training.

Place a greater emphasis on early intervention programs targeted at
children aged up to five, including home visits to all first-time
parents. A National First Three Years foundation would be established
as a partnership between governments, business and the community.

Increase new community education programs highlighting that drug
addiction is primarily a health issue and establish additional
community drug action teams. Boost regional and rural services,
including extra training for doctors and recruitment of additional
drug and alcohol counsellors.

Expand and improve drug education programs for schools from
kindergarten to Year 12.

Amend the Young Offenders Act to allow warnings, cautions and
conferencing for youths committing minor drug offences.