EHD Star Journal - 24th June 2019

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ENDEAVOUR HILLS HALLAM DOVETON

80 years young

Standing strong across the ditch

PAGE 11

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Look at the books

Monday, 24 June, 2019

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Magistrate Gerard Bryant with Dandenong Drug Court's team, rear from left, Joe Wapenka, Shannon Marmion, Tara Kirkpatrick, Samantha Liddy, Carolyn Tees, and front from left, Michelle Rowe, Kelly-Anne Faulkner and Cherise Donovan. 194791 Picture: CAM LUCADOU-WELLS

Welcome to court "Welcome to Drug Court - we look forward to working with you for the next 12-24 months." Magistrate Gerard Bryant looks into the eyes of a new inductee to the Dandenong Drug Court. It's Thursday, which is sentence day - a day of either hopeful new starts or crushing ends. For new inductees, it marks the start of their 12-month or 24-month drug treatment orders (DTOs).

These are serial, serious offenders who are otherwise facing jail time of up to two years. One rapidly taps his feet as he tells Mr Bryant why he wants to join the intensive program of up to 24 months. It marks his best-ever chance to rebuild his life, to put an end to his years of drug-fuelled criminality. An independent evaluation found the drugcourt regime more cost-effective than prison. Most strikingly, its brand of "therapeutic ju-

risprudence" has delivered lower re-offending rates than prison. Despite also expanding to Melbourne Magistrates' Court, the Dandenong branch is at its capacity of 60 participants - with a threemonth waiting list. Mr Bryant tells offenders that they're privileged to have been enlisted in the Drug Court - a "world-class" model with a "huge" array of services and programs, he says. "As you've heard from participants, you've got to want to change.

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"What you're asking for is an opportunity to transform yourself to someone who is considered a great dad, a great son and who can make a meaningful contribution to the community. "One thing you need to understand at the outset is you're not able to finish this order with the same associates if they're involved in drugs and crime." An experienced participant chimes in: "It's impossible." Continued page 6

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