ADDICTS TO GET THEIR OWN COURT

A COURT designed only for drug addicts where treatment is available as a
sentencing option is under consideration by the State Government.

It was revealed last night Premier Bob Carr is examining setting up a pilot
drug court modelled on a successful US scheme, to test its usefulness here.

Under the US model, junkies who plead guilty in the court can choose to
enter a 12-month rehabilitation program instead of jail.

Mr Carr will meet today with Sydney lawyer Ross Goodridge, an advocate of
the courts who has spent time in the US researching their value.

A spokeswoman for Mr Carr confirmed the meeting but stressed the move to
trial the scheme did not signal a softening on the Premier's previous
hardline anti-drugs approach.

First trialled in the US city of Miami in 1989, there are now 200 drug
courts across the US, with another 160 planned.

President Bill Clinton has expanded the scheme as part of his anti-drug
strategy which focuses on prevention, education, treatment and enforcement.

Mr Carr's spokeswoman said a critical part of the drug court scheme was the
threat of jail if rehabilitation failed.

"Those who fail the drug treatment program are then bought back before the
court and can be jailed," she said.

Evidence from the US showed that about 70 per cent of drug court
participants have stayed in the treatment.

Plans to have a pilot scheme operating have been discussed with Police
Minister Paul Whelan, Health Minister Andrew Refshauge and Attorney-General
Jeff Shaw.

She said a drug court would compliment the present two-pronged approach of
the State Government to drugs: law enforcement and rehabilitation alternatives.

Mr Goodridge said drug courts now operated in 48 US states, as well as Guam,
Puerto Rico and the British county of Yorkshire.

"They've been extremely successful," he said. "Of every 100 people who go
through a drug court, only four reappear before the courts with drug problems."

The meeting comes after NSW Police Commissioner Peter Ryan called for more
innovative treatment of addicted criminals.

"When we do catch people (we should) make sure we can get them onto some
kind of drug reduction program and not just methadone or methods like that,"
Mr Ryan told ABC radio.

Checked-by: Melodi Cornett