A range of court drug intervention programs are available in metropolitan and regional Children's Courts and Magistrates Courts. The programs provide opportunities for people apprehended or charged with criminal offences who may benefit from referral to specialist alcohol and other drug treatment services.
The programs are provided to assist in addressing illicit drug misuse problems. The range of programs is provided relative to the seriousness of the current offences, the extent of illicit drug use and the circumstances of individual participants.
Programs currently available for young people aged less than 18 years at the time of committing the relevant offences:
Young Persons Opportunity Program (YPOP)
Available statewide, YPOP forms part of the intervention of the Juvenile Justice Teams.
Children's Court Drug Court
A pre-sentence program provided in the Perth Children's Court, generally for young persons facing serious charges that would result in immediate detention.
The Drug Court Regime (DCR) generally runs for up to 12 months, with participants undertaking treatment under judicial case management of the Drug Court magistrate with the support of the Department of Corrective Services Court Assessment and Treatment Service (CATS), defence counsel, prosecution services and treatment and support services.
Youth Supervised Treatment Intervention Regime (YSTIR)
A pre-sentence program available in the Perth Children's Court. YSTIR is a program for young people with relatively less serious offences and substance misuse than those young persons who would otherwise be considered for inclusion in the DCR.
Programs currently available for persons aged 18 years or older at the time of committing the relevant offences:
Pre-sentence Opportunity Program (POP)
A pre-sentence program for people who are using illicit substances and who have committed relatively less serious offences that would not typically result in imprisonment.
Indigenous Diversion Program (IDP)
Similar to POP but specifically for people of Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander descent. IDP is currently available as a regional program in select regional locations.
Supervised Treatment Intervention Regime (STIR)
A pre-sentence program for persons whose current offences and illicit drug use is typically more serious than persons who may be referred to POP or IDP, but not so serious that imprisonment is likely.
STIR is widely available in many regional locations. The STIR program in the Perth metropolitan area is managed through the Perth Drug Court in the Perth Magistrates Court, Central Law Courts, Perth.
More comprehensive information and downloads on the court drug diversion programs and the broader WA Diversion Program can be obtained from the Drug and Alcohol Office - Drug Diversion Programs website.
For general information in regard to the Drug Diversion programs available within the Magistrates Court of Western Australia, please contact the Manager Courts Drug Diversion Programs on 9425 2526.
For Information, referal or general advice please contact:
Alcohol & Drug Information Service (ADIS)
Phone: (08) 9442 5000
Country callers only: 1800 198 024
E-mail: adis@health.wa.gov.au
Last Updated: 26-Jul-2011
[ Back to Top ]