The teams for the Specialist Courts recently concluded a workshop to discuss how to improve its services to its clients in the Drug Rehabilitation Court and the Mental Health Court. These Specialist Courts were first introduced by Chief Justice Ramsay-Hale some 19 years ago, when she was the Chief Magistrate.
These Courts have proven to be effective in offering treatment and an alternative sentencing approach to vulnerable persons with addiction and mental health issues. The team, which includes professionals from The Counseling Centre, the Department of Community Rehabilitation, Caribbean Haven Rehabilitative Centre, and the Health Services Authority, along with the Magistrates of the Summary Court, met to revisit the current procedures and approach, in line with best practices, with a view to having a more trauma-responsive approach, balanced with legal accountability and responsibility.
