NSW Drug Court celebrates 10th anniversary

06/02/2009

The New South Wales Drug Court marks its 10th anniversary today with the opening of a special conference. Attorney General John Hatzistergos, citing a Bureau of Crime Statistics and Research evaluation last year, said the court is an effective alternative to prison for drug dependent offenders.

"The evaluation showed that the program is more cost-effective than prison in reducing re-offending rates among drug offenders," Mr Hatzistergos said.

"Those who finish the program are 37 per cent less likely to be convicted of a further offence and 58 per cent less likely to be convicted of a drug offence."

Speakers at the conference include Professor Richard Mattick, Director of the National Drug and Alcohol Research Centre, Nicholas Cowdery QC, NSW Director of Public Prosecutions, Senior NSW Drug Court Judge Roger Dive, Magistrate Stephanie Tonkin, from the Queensland Drug Court and Craig Jones, of the Bureau of Crime Statistics and Research.

**6 February 2009 **