Drug treatment and testing orders: Glasgow Drug Court Team
The team
The drug court
Referral to the drug court
Drug court order
Contact details
Background
The Glasgow Drug Court was established following a successful pilot drug treatment and testing order scheme, which was carried out in Glasgow from October 1999 to October 2001.
The model followed is one which is internationally recognised, in that individuals who have an established pattern of drug related offending are targeted with the intention of effecting abstinence or at least significant reduction in use of illegal drugs. As well as the benefits this has for the health and lifestyle of the drug user it also means a significant decrease in their involvement in offending.
The offender is required to undergo regular testing to identify the progress in dealing with his/her drug use and to appear before the sentencing sheriff so that this progress can be reviewed. The sheriff has the power to impose sanctions (including imprisonment) where the conditions of the order are not met.
A great deal of the success of the drug court model comes from the responsive nature of a regime which allies intensive, good quality specialist support with the availability of sanctions for non compliance.
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The team
The drug court team is an interdisciplinary team which has criminal justice social workers, addiction workers and medical staff working closely together. This enables an intensive assessment and supervision service to be provided which research has shown is effective in reducing drug dependency and related offending behaviour.
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The Drug Court
The drug court is a special court within Glasgow Sheriff Court, which deals exclusively with people who have committed crime because of their addiction to drugs. It has the same powers as any sheriff court and can impose the full range of sentences as well as special drug court orders (drug treatment and testing orders and probation orders with a condition of drug treatment).
When placed on a drug court order, offenders must be willing to:
- submit to treatment for drug misuse
- submit to regular and random drug testing
- attend court regularly (usually once a month) so that the sheriff can review their case
- be supervised by the supervision and treatment team (social work, addiction and health staff)
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Referral to the drug court
Those referred to the drug court will:
- usually be over 21 and live in the Glasgow area
- have a history of problem drug misuse
- have a criminal record linked to drug misuse and be at a high risk of receiving a custodial sentence
- have been held in custody after their arrest
- have plead guilty to the offences which have resulted in that court appearance.
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Drug court order
If a person is placed on a drug court order he/she will:
- usually start treatment within 48 hours
- be expected to follow the instructions of the supervising social worker and comply fully with the treatment plan that has been agreed
- provide regular samples for drug testing which will be done under strictly supervised conditions
- be given a date to come back to court for a review hearing which will be held before the sheriff who made the sentence
- the drug court sheriff will meet with the social worker/addiction worker, doctor or nurse before the review hearing to establish individual progress and receive the test results. The review hearing will be used by the sheriff to discuss the progress of the order directly with the offender
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Contact details
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