Presented by Robert Clark MP		www.robertclark.net

Magistrates’ Court new web site

Law firms and community legal centres will be able to ascertain quickly and efficiently court dates for their clients through the Magistrates’ Court new Internet web site.

The page, to be updated weekly, provides an interactive calendar and searchable state-wide listing of the next two months’ hearings in the criminal, civil and WorkCover jurisdictions.

It provides the names of the parties involved, a file number, and the date, time and court where the matter will be heard.

The new service will save time for lawyers who will no longer have to ring courts for information and court hearing dates for their clients.

The web site also offers information on court locations and procedures, the scale of costs for civil proceedings, and services such as the Salvation Army.

A full description and a visual tour of the new Children's Court, a full description of the Coroner’s Court, annual reports, and education programs are also available.

A special feature is an interactive presentation of the objectives, processes and emerging trends of the Court Referral and Drug Intervention and Treatment (CREDIT) program.

The program offers drug treatment as part of the bail process to young people who would not otherwise be granted bail.

The program has been in operation since last November with considerable success. The emerging trends show a significant decrease in re-offending while on bail and that some offenders are motivated to extend their treatment beyond initial recommendations. Several have decreased their substance abuse to such a point that they have been able to rejoin the work force.

(News Release, Office of the Attorney-General, June 3, 1999)