'DRUG COURTS' BACKED

COURTS dealing specifically with the growing drug menace could be
established in South Australia.

The Attorney General, Mr Griffin, threw his support behind the idea
yesterday, although he warned considerable work had to be done to find the
best system.

A call for the formation of so-called "drug courts" - using some components
of those set up in parts of the United States - has been made by the
Australian Institute of Criminology. Mr Griffin said he believed an
integrated approach - involving drug courts, correctional and family
services and the police - may be the best approach.

The Office of Crime Statistics was already investigating a link between drug
abuse and the climbing incidence of violent robbery in SA, he said.

But until the report whs completed, any link between crime and drug abuse
was only anecdotal.

Asked about the introduction of drug courts, Mr Griffin said: "I've
indicated I've got an open mind."

"But we shouldn't blindly copy the system in the United States - we should
learn from it."

"We are looking at whether drug courts have a part to play in SA."

"There is no reason why we shouldn't be looking at something innovative like
drug courts."

The AIC report indicates up to 90 per cent of first-time offenders were not
re-arrested after being dealt with in drug courts in Florida.

The US system was about 70 per cent successful with hard-core addicts.

The report also shows drug courts can be extremely cost effective. The cost
per offender in one drug court at Miami was $US800 per year compared to
$US25,000 per year to imprison an offender.

Despite its enthusiasm for drug courts, the institute report advocates a
"cautious approach".

"We need to establish a number of pilot sites in different jurisdictions,
allocate enough funding for the program to be adequately resourced and put
in place an evaluation team with the expertise in criminal justice and
treatment issues," it says.

Checked-by: Don Beck