Drug Court needs shot in the arm
November 02, 2006
Six years after the establishment of the Drug Court to rehabilitate non-violent drug offenders, the programme is yet to expand beyond its pilot phase due to a lack of funding.
In 2001, the ministries of Health and Justice established the programme in the Corporate Area and Montego Bay, St. James. Parliament during the same year passed the Drug Court (Treatment and Rehabilitation of Offenders) Act to give legislative backing to the initiative.
Carol Palmer, Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Justice, said on Tuesday that a project document was being developed to widen the scope of the project through increased financing.
Speaking at a signing ceremony at the Justice Ministry's Oxford Road offices, where 9,200 standardised urine test kits were presented to the Drug Court Rehabilitation programme, Mrs. Palmer said the prevention and control of substance abuse remained a high priority for the Government.
Suspended sentences
Drug abusers who commit non-violent crimes are awarded suspended sentences if they opt to participate in a drug rehabilitation exercise.
Dr. Myo Kyaw Oo, consultant psychiatrist in the Ministry of Health, said Jamaica's success rate under the programme was between 20 and 30 per cent, which was competitive internationally....
Author: Gleaner Reporter
Source: Jamaica Gleaner
