Supreme Court Justice shocked at inmates’ waiting list for drug treatment program

DRUG addict remand prisoners are bottle-necking the only treatment program they are allowed to take part in before being sentenced

Drug addicted remand prisoners are struggling to access the NT’s Safe, Sober, Strong program

DRUG addict remand prisoners are bottle-necking the only treatment program they are allowed to take part in before being sentenced.

The months-long waitlist the Safe, Sober, Strong program was yesterday criticised as “shocking” by Supreme Court Justice Judith Kelly, during sentencing for a drug-dependent criminal, Dion Fidow. Fidow, of Sydney, has been on remand since August 22 last year when he was arrested with 120g of methamphetamine at Darwin Airport.

Defence Lawyer Tom Berkley said Fidow, 41, was “calling out for a chance at rehabilitation” and had applied for Safe, Sober, Strong — the only rehabilitation program remand prisoners are eligible for — in February.

Fidow, who yesterday pleaded guilty to using a fake ID during his drug run, has been on remand longer than usual, in part as a result of his original lawyer, Louise Bennett, closing her practise. Justice Kelly said: “It’s shocking that someone with a drug dependency can apply for the Safe, Sober Strong program and be waitlisted (in February) and we’re now in August.”

A corrections spokesman told the NT News it was inevitable that prisoners would have to be placed on a waitlist,