A Sunshine court program that helps people going through the court system who have drug, alcohol and other issues may be expanded to the rest of the state.
The Court Integrated Services Program (CISP) works with accused people suffering from drug and alcohol abuse, homelessness, disability, mental health problems and acquired brain injuries, and gives them priority access to treatment and community support services.
CISP has been running in the Sunshine, Melbourne and Latrobe magistrates’ courts since 2006.
Sunshine CISP provided support to 217 accused people in the 2013-14 financial year following referrals from magistrates, police, legal representatives and court staff.
A 2010 evaluation found CISP clients were 20 per cent less likely to reoffend compared to offenders who had not been through the program. CISP clients also recorded reductions in drug and alcohol dependence.
Niddrie MP Ben Carroll, a member of the State Parliament’s law reform, drugs and crime prevention committee that held an inquiry into the supply and use of methamphetamines, said the committee was keen to expand the program.
“We have direct evidence from magistrates that the CISP program which operates in Sunshine really works in helping offenders,” he said.
