The ACT's Drug and Alcohol Court has saved more than $14 million in jail costs since it began in 2019, even though only eight offenders have graduated through its program, an Australian National University (ANU) study says.
The ANU report also found none of those who graduated had ended up back in court.
The findings suggest that most of those still involved in the court's program have significantly reduced their drug and alcohol use.
The research found 106 people had been referred to the program, though only 56 of them were given a drug and alcohol order. At the time of the report, there were still 22 participants.
Court created to keep people out of jail
The court was established to divert offenders whose criminal behaviour was driven by their drug or alcohol addictions, from jail to treatment.
To get into the program, offenders must plead guilty, be assessed as suitable and sign an undertaking to take part.
The ANU analysis of the program's three years showed half of the participants did not re-offend while on a drug and alcohol order, while the rest were caught at least once.
But the report showed that even those who did not complete their orders were offending less often afterwards.
It found that women were more likely to offend on the program than men, though the number of participants was small.
The ANU research also found offenders who had committed violent crimes were less likely to complete the program, though the report authors said that should not be used as a reason to exclude them.
Yet while report said that, while the court was succeeding, its work was being held back by poor resourcing in other areas.
This includes the number of rehabilitation centres in Canberra.
The research showed a lack of suitable housing was also affecting outcomes.
"The lack of housing many participants face is a significant hurdle to entry onto the program and likely impacts on the chances of sobriety and successful completion, once they are on the program," the report said.
Overall, the report was positive, finding the court had saved Canberra taxpayers $14 million in jail costs by diverting participants to receive treatment for their addictions.
The researchers said the court had saved more than it cost to set up and deserved more resources.
Lawyers call for better funding
Barrister John Purnell echoed the researchers' call for the court to be significantly expanded.
He said the program was unable to meet existing demand.
"It's currently 35 [participants] — I think it should be double that," Mr Purnell said.
"The Attorney-General [Shane Rattenbury] has said, to his credit, that he wants to see incarceration rates go down, he said he wants to build communities and not prisons.
"So he has to convince the Chief Minister and his other cabinet colleagues to allocate more funds to the criminal justice system."
Mr Rattenbury said the report showed a clear case for that to happen.
"This is a really good investment from the government for a whole range of reasons: the economic savings, but also making the community safer by having people less involved in crime," he said.
Chief Justice Lucy McCallum said the government should consider expanding access to the program, including for those on shorter sentences.
She said that would benefit women in particular.
However, she noted the court had not been of particular benefit to Indigenous Australians and she wanted that to change.
"I particularly have in mind some kind of model of circle sentencing for Indigenous offenders," the judge said.
Circle sentencing involves community elders offering advice during the justice process.
Mr Rattenbury said he hoped the budget update in February next year could allocate more resources to the court.
