Page 3758 - Week 11 - Tuesday, 24 September 2019
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We are introduced to Craig, who was initially full of self-doubt about his ability to successfully complete the program as he struggled deeply with his addiction. His desire to be a father whom his son could be proud of as a stable figure was one of his greatest motivations. When Craig’s mother suddenly passed away, his perseverance shone through. He continued to attend court and did not use any substances during what was undoubtedly an intensely painful time. He walked through that period refusing to give in and to use substances. Craig graduated with his family by his side. He is living a life that he never thought he could live without drugs, and he is proud of his growth.
When I witnessed participants receiving a round of applause at the Parramatta Drug Court last year, I got to see this well-earned pride firsthand. It is an unusual thing to do in a courtroom, but it is very important that participants are acknowledged for their hard work.
Let us remember that drug and alcohol court participants have often lived incredibly difficult and chaotic lives. For many, it could be the first positive reinforcement that they have received in a long time, if ever. This form of recognition is even more important as drug and alcohol court participation is voluntary and subject to especially intensive requirements. People have to take responsibility for their actions and face some hard truths about their lives. They are tested regularly for drug and alcohol use; they are rigorously supervised; and they have to show up in both a literal and figurative way.
As Mr Rattenbury indicated, some offenders choose not to participate as they believe it is easier to be incarcerated and not challenge the behaviours that led to their offending. This is not the easy option for any.
When we get to the heart of it, redemption is what drug and alcohol courts are all about. These stories are a real testament to the strength of the drug court program in rebuilding the capacity of participants.
If we want to look purely at the numbers, the measures of success in New South Wales for 2018 demonstrate a significant upward trend in program completers and graduates since the court opened in 2013. In 2018, they had 103 graduates, and 58 per cent of participants did not have to return to prison. For this cohort of high-risk and high-need offenders, these statistics are absolutely remarkable.
The supervision element of therapeutic courts helps participants to stay on the straight and narrow. Supervision also facilitates important conversations between the court and the offender about focusing on their rehabilitation. By genuinely engaging with participants, the court can determine key motivators and use that information to assist their recovery in a holistic way. That is why we are building a strong alliance of government and non-government agencies who will each have an important role to play in assisting the offender to break their cycle of addiction and crime. We are engaging with the agencies and the providers to ensure that the necessary services are in place for the ACT drug and alcohol court to begin operating by the end of this calendar year. While this bill is an essential element, it is part of the larger project to get the drug and alcohol court established.
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