This briefing aims to support practitioners seeking to enhance their court-based response to substance misuse by providing:
- The evidence on the link between substance misuse and offending;
- A summary of the evidence base on what works to reduce reoffending for individuals coming to court with substance misuse issues, both internationally and in the UK;
- A snapshot of the innovative ‘problem-solving’ court practice we have identified which is seeking to enhance the court response to substance misuse in the UK today;
- Lessons for practitioners who are seeking to enhance their response to substance misuse as part of a community sentence or as an alternative to custody.