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Appendix A: Alternative Schemes
Arrest Referral Schemes
Arrest Referral ( AR) is a scheme directed at people who abuse substances and who are arrested and detained in police or court custody suites. It provides an opportunity for those individuals with drug and alcohol issues who have been arrested, to engage on a voluntary basis with drug treatment and/or other appropriate services. The aim is to reduce both substance misuse and the offending behaviour that may be linked to that misuse.
An independent evaluation of the Arrest Referral Pilot Schemes in Scotland 1 found that pilots were successful in reaching arrestees with substance misuse problems, that the throughput ranged from 100-900 a year per site, that 84% of arrestees would recommend arrest referral to other people and that most arrestees were referred into treatment services.
Drug Courts
Drugs courts operating in Glasgow and Fife offer a further example of recent initiatives to tackle drugs misuse and offending. They target those with complex and enduring drug problems to help them recover from addiction and rebuild their lives. Specialist Sheriffs, multi-agency working and effective case management are key characteristics of the drug court. Evidence shows that a sizeable proportion of drug court clients achieved and sustained reductions in drug use and associated offending behaviour. The success and effectiveness of drug courts is currently being reviewed. 2
Drug Treatment and Testing Orders ( DTTOs)
DTTOs are aimed at providing courts with a further community-based option to deal more effectively with some serious drug misusers who primarily commit crimes to fund their habit. DTTOs were introduced by the Crime and Disorder Act 1998 where courts can require an offender to undergo treatment for his or her drug misuse, subject to the offender's consent to such an order being made. The Order contains features unique to a community penalty which can be made as a 'stand alone' option or in conjunction with another community-based disposal such as a probation order. Those made the subject of an Order are subject to regular reviews by the court and for the offender to consent to occasional mandatory random drug testing throughout the lifetime of the Order. As many as 696 orders were imposed in 2006/07, and a further 601 orders in 2007/08, which can be for a minimum of six months and a maximum of three years.
Previous research 3 has shown that DTTOs can have a positive impact on drug use and offending. The Evaluation of the Scottish Pilots showed that, after six months on an Order an individual's expenditure on drugs decreased from an average of £490 per week pre-sentence to an average of £57 per week. Despite having extensive prior criminal histories, almost half of those who complete their orders had no further convictions within two years. DTTOs also compare well with the cost of prison - the average annual cost of a DTTO is £10,000, while the average cost of prison is £35,000 per year. Offenders receiving a probation order with a condition of drug treatment generally have a lesser criminal history than those made the subject of a DTTO but the nature of the order allows a more holistic approach to be applied to address issues of accommodation, employment, etc. in addition to the drug use. 4
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