People with drug problems often commit crime in order to be able to finance their addiction. The Scottish Government believes that the best way to reduce drug-related crime and re-offending is to get problem drug users into the appropriate treatment and support services. This is done by providing opportunities at all stages of the criminal justice system for people to access treatment to promote recovery from drug addiction. We are currently reviewing the effectiveness of interventions in the criminal justice system for drug users and will report in early 2011.
A range of different interventions exist:
Drug Treatment and Testing Orders (usually referred to as DTTOs) is a high tariff disposal for drug-misusing offenders who might otherwise receive a custodial sentence, and is available to the High Court and Sheriff Courts throughout Scotland, together with Glasgow Stipendiary Magistrates Court.
The intention is to tackle those people whose offending is a direct result of their drug-misuse, i.e. addicts who steal to fund their habit. In tackling the drug problem we can steer offenders away from crime. It is important to stress that serious drug dealers will continue to receive custodial sentences.
In October 2002 the findings of external evaluation by Stirling University of the Glasgow and Fife DTTO pilots were published. The research demonstrated that within the first few months of an Order being made offenders showed a significant reduction in levels of spend on drugs and associated criminal behaviour. Specifically, after 6 months on an Order, expenditure on drugs decreased from an average of £490 per week pre-sentence to an average of £57 per week afterwards. You can read the full report at: Drug Treatment and Testing Orders - Evaluation of the Scottish Pilots.
A subsequent independent study of reconviction rates for DTTO offenders, published in October 2004, added to the positive picture. This research indicated that DTTOs were having a real impact on re-offending levels, with almost half (48 per cent) of those who completed their Orders having no further convictions within two years. Another key finding was that the majority of those who did have subsequent reconvictions were convicted of relatively minor offences. You can read the full report at : Reconviction Following Drug Treatment and Testing Orders.
The guidance for schemes on drug treatment testing orders was published during February 2004.
DTTO II
In July 2007, the Scottish Cabinet agreed that the most successful features of DTTOs should be adapted for use with lower tariff offenders. The new model of DTTO was piloted for 2 years from 2008-2010. Following an interim 'process evaluation', Ministers decided to extend funding until end March 2012 to provide an opportunity to build on the pilot's success by collecting longer-term monitoring data for a larger sample of clients.
Arrest referral schemes
These provide an opportunity for those individuals with drugs issues who have been arrested, to engage on a voluntary basis with drug treatment and/or other appropriate services. An evaluation, which reported in 2006, suggested that arrest referral schemes, which are restricted to certain areas of Scotland, appear to be successful in targeting arrestees with substance misuse problems.
Drug Courts
Drug Courts operate in Glasgow and Fife. They are targeted at those with complex and deeply entrenched 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 were to achieve and sustain reductions in drug use and associated offending.