EDITORIAL - Substance abuse and crime

 

The connection between drug use and crime is well known.
 
Of late, one criminologist has called attention to the matter, suggesting that substance abuse in Barbados is so prolific that drugs can now be sourced on any street corner. It has also been noted that this little island has a high rate of recidivism and ex-offenders often have a hard time re-integrating into society and family life after leaving prison, as many of them are unfortunately battling drug addiction. This, coupled with the fact that there is a stigma attached to incarceration, also affects their ability to attain employment.
 
On the global scene, it is suggested that substance abuse treatment offers the best alternative for interrupting the drug use/criminal justice cycle for offenders with drug problems. If the addiction is left untreated, there is the likelihood that these affected ex-offenders will likely relapse into drug use and criminal behaviour, further taxing the criminal justice system’s resources and by extension, the society’s.
 
Approximately two years ago, Attorney General and Minister of Home Affairs, Adriel Brathwaite stated that Barbados would be moving in the direction of having problem-solving courts (PSC) to address the underlying problems that contribute to criminal behaviour, as well as cut down on adversarial matters that might otherwise go through the ordinary court system. He noted then that the island’s Drug Treatment Court would serve as one PSC and the aim would be to also bring on stream a Family Court, as well as a dedicated Juvenile Court.
 
With regards to the Drug Treatment Court (DTC), it is designed to supervise cases of non-violent drug dependent offenders, who agree to participate in treatment for their substance addiction. So persons who are charged with committing an offence involving the trafficking of drugs, the use of violence or a weapon, and any indictable offence will not qualify to be DTC participants.
 
A look across the region shows that successful Drug Treatment Courts have been opened in Jamaica and Trinidad and Tobago; and in both of these countries the pilots have worked well. As such, all eyes were on Barbados to see how we would navigate the pilot phase of our launch of a DTC. Notwithstanding calls for additional funding of treatment facilities on the island – both residential and non-residential – government gave the assurance that the badly needed DTC would have been a success.
 
Twelve persons – eleven males and one female – were monitored by the Barbados’ DTC after it held its first session on January 14, 2015 at the Supreme Court of Barbados. As of September 2016, it was noted that 11 clients graduated earlier this year and that the second cohort recently started the programme. Reports are that the second class of Drug Treatment clients comprises 20 persons, but unlike the first class where the drug of choice was marijuana, in this second group the drugs include harder substances like cocaine.
 
It seems as if we are on the right track where the DTC is concerned. It is hoped however, that more people can be directed to the DTC in the future as an alternative to incarceration, since the Court emphasises community-based substance  abuse treatment and supervision of addicted non-violent criminal offenders, and this can certainly take a load off our prison and also benefit our society going forward.

Barbados Advocate

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