Drug Treatment Court

The Drug Treatment Court provides a restorative justice alternative to a custodial sentence for persons with drug addiction who have pleaded guilty before, or have been convicted by, the District Court for minor, non-violent, criminal charges connected to their addition.

There were 98 new participants referred to the court programme in 2015, the highest number since the programme commenced in 2001, and six graduates at the highest (gold) level. The Minister of State at the Department of Justice and Equality visited the court in September to meet the judge in charge and members of the court team (which includes staff of the Service). The team outlined the operation of the court, participation levels, and efforts made to enable people outside of Dublin avail of the court programme.