Source: Sydney Morning Herald (Australia) Contact: http://www.smh.com.au/ Pubdate: Fri 24 July, 1998 Author: Ardyn Bernoth CARR BACKS US-STYLE DRUG COURTS The Premier has ordered draft legislation to establish US-style drug courts as the latest weapon in the fight against drugs and drug-related crime. Mr Ross Goodridge, an advocate of drug courts, said Mr Carr told him yesterday that legislation could be introduced as soon as the next session of Parliament. Mr Goodridge said the 400 drug courts opened in the US had been so successful that another 600 were planned. If people accused of drug-related crimes plead guilty, they are allowed to chose rehabilitation before sentencing. Mr Goodridge said that in the US 85 per cent of people stuck to the program and did not reoffend. Mr Carr's office agreed the meeting had been very positive. "Obviously we are going to need legislative changes if we are going to do this. We will be looking to advance this proposal in coming weeks," a spokeswoman said. - --- Checked-by: (Joel W. Johnson)