Community courts plan may shake up justice system
The Criminal Justice system could be set for a major shake-up after Government advisors today called for new courts to force offenders to make amends for their crimes.
Styled on an American regime, Community Courts would give judges the power to punish defendants while offering them help and attempting to address the cause of the crime.
The courts would deal with assaults, criminal damage, petty theft, graffiti, drug use and soliciting.
The aim is to improve quality of life for people living in areas affected by anti-social behaviour and offenders, who must plead guilty to enter the system, could end up doing four days community work directly linked to their crimes.
Offenders may also be referred for alcohol/drug treatment, mental health services and family services.
The report by the National Crime Council was handed to the outgoing Tánaiste and Justice Minister Michael McDowell today.
The council want the first court in inner city Dublin serving the Store Street and Pearse Street garda station areas and if successful have it rolled out across the country.
Defendants must go through a pre-trial assessment, they will provide speedy access to social and other services and community work.
In cities Community Courts would operate alone while in rural areas they would form part of the District Courts and each court would have a dedicated judge while the defendant sees the same judge at every appearance.
Padraic White, National Crime Council chairman, said the idea is to break the cycle of re-offending.
“Community Courts take a problem-solving approach to such offenders, using a range of health and social services while some defendants may be required to undertake community work in the neighbourhood to make some reparation for their offending.”
The group which compiled the report was chaired by District Court Judge Michael Reilly.
The council wants a project manager appointed by the Courts Service and the first court open within six months.
Caseload would be monitored to ensure it is manageable at all times while researchers would be employed to evaluate the characteristics of defendants, cases dealt with and re-offending rates.
The council looked at Community Courts in New York and Philadelphia and the Liverpool Community Justice Centre. In the US defendants who comply with the orders of the courts avoid a criminal conviction.
