Pre-sentence rehab assessment
For solicitors and families: what a court-ready addiction assessment covers, how fast it can be done, and what to hand to probation.
Courts respond to specifics: a named provider, a confirmed bed, a dated assessment and evidence of attendance. This page sets out exactly what to gather, and in what order, when a hearing is weeks or days away.
The court-ready bundle
- Clinical assessment report — dependency severity, risk, recommended pathway, dated and signed.
- Written offer of a placement — provider name, admission date, length of programme.
- Funding confirmation — who is paying and that the money is available.
- Attendance evidence — community service sign-in records, mutual-aid attendance.
- Support letters — GP, employer, family.
Working backwards from the hearing date
- 4+ weeks out: self-refer locally, book the clinical assessment, ask for a Pre-Sentence Report that considers treatment.
- 2–3 weeks out: report received, placement provisionally held, funding confirmed.
- 1 week out: full bundle to the solicitor, admission date confirmed in writing.
- Days out: still worth doing — a dated assessment and a held bed beat nothing at all.
Common questions
What is a pre-sentence addiction assessment?▾
A structured clinical assessment of dependency severity, treatment history, risk and the recommended pathway, written up so probation and the court can rely on it when considering a treatment requirement instead of custody.
How quickly can an assessment be arranged?▾
A private assessment can usually be completed within a few working days, with the written report following within 24 to 48 hours. NHS community services can assess quickly too, but report turnaround is less predictable.
What does the report contain?▾
Substance and alcohol history, dependency severity (often using AUDIT or SADQ-style measures), physical and mental health risk, previous treatment attempts, motivation and consent, plus a specific recommended pathway with a named provider and availability.
Does the assessment replace the Pre-Sentence Report?▾
No. Probation writes the Pre-Sentence Report. A clinical assessment is evidence the probation author and the court can use — the two are complementary, and the clinical report should be sent to the solicitor to disclose.
Do solicitors need anything else?▾
Usually a confirmed treatment place in writing, funding confirmation if the placement is private, attendance evidence from any community service already engaged, and letters of support from a GP, employer or family.
Is the assessment confidential?▾
Yes. It is disclosed only with the person's consent, normally to their solicitor, who decides what goes before the court.
Related
For criminal defence solicitors
Refer a client for a court-ready assessment, free to your firm.
Court-ordered rehab overview
How treatment requirements work at sentencing.
Drug Rehabilitation Requirement (DRR)
Eligibility, testing and breach.
Alcohol Treatment Requirement (ATR)
The alcohol treatment requirement explained.
Rehab costs in the UK
What a private placement actually costs.
General information, not legal advice. Sentencing strategy should be led by a criminal defence solicitor.