Pubdate: Fri, 09 Nov 2001
Source: Scotsman (UK)
Copyright: The Scotsman Publications Ltd 2001
Contact:  http://www.scotsman.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/406
Author: John Staples

FIRST US-STYLE DRUG COURT IS LAUNCHED IN SCOTLAND

THE first American-style drug court in Scotland was launched in Glasgow 
yesterday in an attempt to clamp down on addicts and the crimes they commit.

The two-year pilot scheme will deal exclusively with repeat offenders. Its 
aim is to help them lose their dependency and re-integrate them into normal 
society. The court will target addicts over the age of 21 who have shown a 
willingness to leave the world of drugs and have proven their ability to 
change through a series of rigorous screening tests.

Launched yesterday by deputy justice minister Iain Gray, the court will 
start its official business next Monday. Mr Gray denied the new court would 
be a soft option for criminals and said it would have tough sanctions at 
its disposal .

He added: "I believe everyone involved has been motivated by the potential 
of drug courts to improve people's lives. That means the lives of drug 
mis-users committing crime to feed their habits and the lives of the people 
in our communities suffering at their hands."

The idea was inspired by drug courts in America and Canada, where research 
has shown that they have a marked effect on repeat offending.

The cost of drug-related crime in Glasgow and the west of Scotland, where 
there are nearly 15,000 registered addicts, is put at around £2.5 million a 
year.

The system, based in the busiest court in Europe, aims to treat between 150 
and 200 people a year.
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