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Court Support Services

The Magistrates’ Court of Victoria offers and participates in a variety of services and programs to improve the Court’s responsiveness to the community when they attend the Court. These initiatives support the objectives of the Court and provide improved understanding and communications between the Court, other courts, the government, court users and the general public. In addition the support services aim to assist those defendants who may present with issues of social or cultural disadvantage. These underlying issues may include having a disability, substance abuse or mental illness, all of which the Court aims to address and cater for by offering continually evolving support programs to meet the varying needs of those who require them. A number of the Court’s programs refer court users to various services within the community for treatment and support, whilst being monitored by the Court. Such programs act to reinforce the link between the Court and the community and its service systems.

The support programs offered by the Magistrates’ Court of Victoria can also in many cases continue to provide assistance in the higher courts such as the County Court and the Court of Appeal.

Further information may be obtained from the Magistrates’ Court of Victoria Guide to Court Support & Diversion Services