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Drug Treatment Order
A Drug Treatment Order (DTO) combines a term of imprisonment with treatment, except the term of imprisonment is suspended. The law relating to DTOs is contained in sections 18X-18ZS of the Sentencing Act 1991.
A DTO can only be imposed by the Victorian Drug Court, which is a branch of the Magistrates' Court.
A maximum two year sentence can be imposed as a DTO.
Successful completion of the treatment program means the offender will not have to serve any time in prison, but freedom of movement and association is controlled.
There are regular meetings with the magistrate and counsellors as well as urine tests for offenders subject to a DTO.
A DTO can not be given to offenders who have committed sexual or violent crimes.