Drug and alcohol courts have been a longstanding feature of the family justice system to help reunite parents with their children - now the problem-solving approach is being piloted in the criminal justice system to put offenders 'back on the straight and narrow', the Ministry of Justice has revealed.

So-called 'intensive supervision courts' are being piloted in Liverpool, Teesside and Birmingham. The Liverpool and Teesside courts are focusing on offenders whose addictions have driven their criminal behaviour. The Birmingham court is focusing on female offenders.

Over 55 pilot participants have so far been ordered to meet regularly with the same judge, engage with specialist treatment and be subject to enhanced supervision, such as random drug testing. Those who fail to comply with the order could be sent to prison. The ministry said a US study on the long-term effect of a similar court saw 25% fewer drug charges over a 15-year period and the US courts inspired the England pilot.

Liverpool Crown Court

Liverpool Crown Court: Where one of the 'intensive supervision courts' is being piloted

Source: Alamy

The 18-month pilot began last June. The Gazette understands the specialist courts could be set up in other parts of the country should an evaluation find it has cut reoffending rates.

Fresh from a trip to the US where he met judges from problem-solving courts in Manhattan and Brooklyn, lord chancellor Alex Chalk visited the Liverpool court last week.

Chalk said: 'These courts are addressing the drug and alcohol-related crimes which blight our communities by getting offenders to confront their addictions. Offenders are being punished for their crime, but these tough community sentences are also working to ensure they don’t offend again.'

Revolving Doors, which champions long-term solutions to tackle the root causes of repeat, low-level crime, said: 'CFE Research, Revolving Doors and Institute for Lifecourse Development at the University of Greenwich are proud to be undertaking a ground-breaking study of the piloting of this approach for the UK. The evaluation provides an important opportunity to add to the evidence base on approaches to addressing offending behaviour that is driven by unmet health and social needs.'

 

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