Queensland Drug and Alcohol Court

The Queensland Drug and Alcohol Court is a sentencing option for offenders facing jail for drug and alcohol offences. The magistrate can give an eligible person a Queensland Drug and Alcohol Treatment Order (QDAC TO) where they complete a program in the community while on a suspended sentence. 

When you need legal advice

Get legal advice if you need to:

  • find out about referrals to the Queensland Drug and Alcohol Court
  • understand the court processes and program requirements
  • provide information to other lawyers. 

How to get legal advice

About the Queensland Drug and Alcohol Court

The Queensland Drug and Alcohol Court (QDAC) is a specialist court that deals with individuals facing imprisonment for drug and alcohol related offences and is located at the Brisbane Magistrates Court.

QDAC combines the resources of the Court, Justice, Qld Health, Qld Corrections, Qld Police Service and Legal Aid Qld to help offenders recover from drug and/or alcohol dependency.

Offenders must plead guilty to their offences to be considered for the QDAC sentencing option.

The court can:

  • have eligible offenders assessed for Treatment Order suitability. This pre-sentence process can take 5-6 weeks and involves discussions between the court and QDAC agencies, including lawyers for each defendant, about the program suitability of an offender before a decision is made.
  • place suitable offenders on a Drug and Alcohol Treatment Order. Offenders must agree to the order, which gives them 2 years to complete their individualised program in the community, while on a suspended sentence.
  • arrange treatment and support programs for defendants who are under a Drug and Alcohol Treatment Order.

When a Treatment Order can and can’t be made 

You may be able to receive a Queensland Drug and Alcohol Court order if you:

  • live in greater Brisbane (view the Brisbane Magistrates Court boundary map) or are currently in custody
  • are likely to be sentenced to jail
  • plead guilty in a Magistrates Court
  • have a severe drug or alcohol problem, which has been assessed by the Qld Health QDAC team after referral by the Magistrates Court.

You will not be able to receive a Treatment Order if you are:

  • currently in prison
  • subject to a parole order
  • charged with sexual assault.

Learn more about the Queensland Drug and Alcohol Court on the Courts Queensland website. 

How to apply to QDAC from Magistrates Court 

For the QDAC court to consider a case, you'll need to complete the Drug and Alcohol Court Form 1 Referral Form. You can download the form from the Courts Queensland website, or get it from the Magistrates Court or your lawyer. 

If you don't have a lawyer and need help to complete the form, contact:

  • the duty lawyer at the Magistrates Court

    or
  • a Legal Aid Queensland lawyer.

How to get legal advice

We may provide legal advice and representation for issues related to a treatment order and the Drug and Alcohol Court.

Contact us

Other places to get legal advice:

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Disclaimer: This content is for general purposes only and not legal advice. If you have a legal problem, please contact us or speak to a lawyer. View our full disclaimer.

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