A program designed to rehabilitate rather than jail the ACT's drug and alcohol-addicted criminals has proved popular, with referrals outweighing available spots in its first week.
Eleven offenders had been referred to the Drug and Alcohol Sentencing List as of December 11, the scheme's co-ordinator said. The sentencing option started on December 3.
Two criminals were rejected outright for not meeting the legislative criteria and nine were assessed as eligible for the program.
A tenth person was expected to be committed to the list by the new year. There were 10 spots available in the program's first intake.
The Drug and Alcohol Sentencing List team had expected it to reach capacity, the co-ordinator said.
Another 10 spots would become available between January and June next year. The remaining 15 spots would be allocated up until June 2021; all of them were filled on a "first in, best dressed" basis.
The sentencing option was run through the Supreme Court, with the Magistrates Court able to refer an offender to be assessed for a drug and alcohol treatment order. Offenders could also ask to be considered for a referral.
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Acting Justice Lorraine Walker was tasked with implementing the scheme.
She previously told The Canberra Timeswhile the focus of the sentencing list was on rehabilitation as opposed to jail time, it was not a soft option.
"This allows the court to operate in a very different way to try and address this intractable issue," Acting Justice Walker said.
"The end game, yes, it is about their rehabilitation and to see them integrated into the community, but it's for the safety and benefit of the whole community."
The Drug and Alcohol Sentencing list was being trialled in the ACT from 2019 to June 2021. The decision to offer 35 spots in the program was based on research into offenders' alcohol and drug use and the territory's population.
A spokesman for the ACT government said it was looking forward to the scheme continuing.
"The Drug and Alcohol Court is a signature policy of the ACT government designed to reduce recidivism and improve restorative justice measures in the territory for the benefit of the Canberra community," he said.
The sentencing list could be extended and more spots allocated beyond 2021.
