Criminal Justice Teams

The Drug Interventions Programme (DIP) teams work in partnership with the police to identify and support individuals who are experiencing substance misuse issues and are linked to the Criminal Justice System (Police, Courts, and Prison Service, etc).

The DIP team seeks to break the cycle of committing crime to fund drug use by addressing the client's drug and alcohol problems, and referring them for treatment. These individuals have a greater chance of building an alternative lifestyle in the community if they receive support, treatment and advice.

• ARREST REFERRAL WORK
Arrest Referral Workers meet drug users at the stage of arrest. They then assess them and refer them into one of our services, or another service if it is more suitable for that particular individual. WDP's involvement with the criminal justice system provides an access route to people who need our services but may not otherwise approach us for help.


• COURT REFERRALS
Court Workers approach individuals whose cases are connected with drug use. They offer support to people in need of help, but can also attend court cases and speak on behalf of clients. While they cannot guarantee a client's commitment to abstinence from drugs, they can offer the facts around the client's treatment. This evidence will aid the magistrates' judgement on granting an individual bail.


• PRISON LINK
Prison Link Workers meet with clients while they are in prison, to offer advice and support. WDP liaises with prison based services and works in conjunction with them so that on release, the individual quickly finds the treatment they need. Our workers accompany them from the prison to the treatment provider in these instances. Prison workers also conduct advocacy on behalf of their clients, which can involve preparing their housing and benefits etc. in time for their release.

For details of WDP’s DIP Teams see the Contact Our Services section.