The Assessment and Referral Court (ARC) is a specialist, pre‑sentence list of the Magistrates’ Court of Victoria that applies therapeutic jurisprudence principles to criminal matters involving people with complex needs. ARC focuses on identifying and addressing the underlying factors that contribute to offending behaviour, particularly where mental illness, cognitive impairment, or disability is present.

ARC aims to improve participants’ health, wellbeing, and stability while reducing the likelihood of re‑offending. It does this by combining judicial oversight with intensive, coordinated therapeutic and support services delivered in the community. Participants appear regularly before the same magistrate, allowing progress to be reviewed in a consistent and informed manner.

Therapeutic service providers are central to ARC’s operation. Services may include mental health treatment, disability support, alcohol and other drug treatment, housing assistance, and broader psychosocial interventions. These services are coordinated through an individualised support plan developed by ARC clinicians and aligned with court expectations