Thomas P. Broughan
Question:31 Mr. Broughan asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the action, if any, he has taken to facilitate the establishment of drugs courts; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20258/98]
Written Answers. - Drug Courts.
The House will be aware that the programme for Government listed as one of its key priorities, in the measures to combat the drugs problem, the creation of a drug courts system which would involve court supervised treatment programmes for less serious drug-related offences. In accordance with this commitment, I requested the working group on a courts commission, chaired by the Honourable Mrs. Justice Susan Denham, to consider the establishment of a drug courts system in Ireland.
On 25 September 1998, I announced that the Government had approved the publication of the fifth report of the working group on a courts commission — drug courts — which sets out details and experiences of drug courts in the USA and other European jurisdictions. I also announced that I had secured Government approval for the establishment of a drug courts planning committee to prepare plans for the establishment of a drug courts pilot project in the District Court early in the new year. The terms of reference of the planning committee are currently being finalised and I expect to be in a position to appoint the members of the committee shortly. As part of its remit, the planning committee will be asked to examine the resource issues surrounding the establishment of a pilot project.
The development of a drug courts system on a pilot basis marks a major policy initiative in the criminal justice system and is designed as an alternative measure for dealing with the less serious and non-violent drug offenders. It is the beginning of a fundamental realignment of the response of the criminal justice system to those involved in less serious drug-related offences. In effect, drug courts afford persons in trouble with the law on foot of having committed minor or non-violent drug related offences an opportunity to be treated under courts supervision as an alternative to the more ususal penal sanctions which can be imposed. I look forward to assessing the results of the pilot project in due course and if the US experience, which shows that criminal activity for drug-related crimes decreases or is eliminated as a result of treatment, is repeated here, I believe that this initiative is likely to have a profound effect over time on how we as a society deal with less serious drug-related crime.