The Chief District Court Judge is supporting a proposal to establish New Zealand's first Drug Court.
Such courts overseas focus on rehabilitating offenders who have committed crimes to support alcohol or drug dependencies.
The courts combine judges, lawyers, social workers and medics in a team approach, with court and therapy going hand-in-hand.
One of the lawyers promoting the idea, Jim Boyack, says overseas evidence indicates such courts are driving down recidivism rates by tackling the root problem.
Mr Boyack says lawyers are at their wits' end in terms of finding solutions. "We don't like seeing our clients come back and come back in a revolving door and we're for anything that changes that," he says.
Chief District Court Judge Russell Johnson says he applauds the idea, but says cost is a factor, along with a shortage of drug and alcohol abuse experts.
