NSWIn ForceAct
Drug Court Act 1998
6Courts may refer persons to Drug Court during proceedings for offence
Start here
Get a plain-English read of 6
Turn the raw legal text into a practical explanation grounded in Drug Court Act 1998.
#### 6 Courts may refer persons to Drug Court during proceedings for offence
6 Courts may refer persons to Drug Court during proceedings for offence
> > (1) This section applies to such courts and proceedings as are prescribed by the regulations.
>
> > (2) It is the duty of a court before which a person is charged with an offence or to which a person appeals against a sentence imposed by some other court—
> >
> > > (a) to ascertain whether the person appears to be an eligible person, and
> >
> > > (b) if so, to ascertain whether the person is willing to be referred to the Drug Court to be dealt with for the offence, and
> >
> > > (c) if so, to refer the person to the Drug Court to be dealt with for the offence.
>
> > (3) The power conferred on a court by this section is to be exercised as soon as practicable after the person first comes before the court in connection with the offence, but may be exercised at any time—
> >
> > > (a) in the case of a Judge of the Local Court conducting committal proceedings under the [Criminal Procedure Act 1986](/view/html/inforce/current/act-1986-209), before the judge has committed the person for trial or sentence in relation to that offence, and
> >
> > > (b) in any other case, before the person is sentenced or re-sentenced for the offence.
>
> **s 6:** Am 1999 No 47, Sch 1 \[2\] \[3\]; 2001 No 121, Sch 2.87 \[4\]. Subst 2006 No 107, Sch 1.14 \[7\]. Am 2025 No 61, Sch 2.38\[1\] \[2\].