Criminal and civil community-based "detention": some parallels

Over the last 20 years, governments in Australia and elsewhere have increasingly embraced the notion of community-based treatment of the mentally ill in preference to detention in a mental health facility. At the same time, governments have also embraced the notion of community-based treatment and punishment of criminal offenders in preference to detention in a custodial facility. This article examines the use of Community Treatment Orders (CTOs) within the Victorian mental health regime, and the use of Intensive Correction Orders (ICOs) within the Victorian criminal justice regime. It is argued that a number of striking similarities can be found in the respective legislative schemes and policy considerations.