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Unfair Conclusions on Drug Treatment Court

27 August 2013

 

JUDICIARY OF TRINIDAD & TOBAGO
DEPARTMENT OF COURT ADMINISTRATION
COUR PROTOCOL AND INFORMATION UNIT
Hall of Justice Knox Street Port of SpainTrinidad & Tobago
Tel: (868) 62-TTLAW (628-8529) Ext. 2407, 2436, 2437, 2446, 2413 - 15 Fax: (868) 624-2094

Media Release

Immediate: August 27, 2013

Unfair Conclusions on Drug Treatment Court

The Judiciary of Trinidad and Tobago and its multi-sectoral stakeholders in the development and implementation of the pilot Drug Treatment Court (DTC) take issue with the headline, and some of the content of an article on the related programme published in the Sunday Guardian of August 25, 2013.

The article states that the Court is "failing" or destined to fail because it is not utilising residential care. It also refers to a requirement for participants in the programme to attend meetings of Narcotics Anonymous as part of their treatment, inferring further that these participants "are given a form which must be stamped at the meeting to show the Court they have attended and that's it, they stamp and go..." rendering their treatment ineffective.

This is totally inaccurate and also suggests a level of incompetence and ineffectiveness in the role of Narcotics Anonymous which comprises groups who are a part of the DTC Pilot in the recovery of chronic substance abusers. It is also a very unfair attack on an organization which has, and continues to help and support many persons in their recovery.

It is important to note that each participant in the DTC is assessed and their treatment needs identified. Should the participant require residential care, this is provided. It should be pointed out however that in DTC's worldwide many participants receive effective treatment intervention in community and other out-patient settings. The needs of the DTC participant will ALWAYS be the priority for the Court, and their treatment plan is accordingly structured. The critical components are that there is treatment supported by Court supervision and the provision of other needed services. We wish to emphasise, contrary to what the story in the Sunday Guardian suggests, our DTC pilot, with the support of all of its stakeholders, provides all of these elements.

The establishment of the Drug Treatment Court in Trinidad and Tobago is designed to assist non-violent substance abusers who have committed crimes, to access treatment under Court supervision. The Court represents an alternative to incarceration and is a critical part of the services in the criminal justice system. It should be emphasised that the programme is a pilot that has been implemented in partnership with the Organisation of American States (OAS) and the Inter-American Drug Abuse Control Commission (CICAD) as part of the OAS Drug Treatment Court Program for the Americas. Although just over a year old, the project has already been held up as a model worthy of replication in other jurisdictions. The Judiciary and its stakeholders, therefore, are very concerned that this project has been highlighted in such a negative manner in the Sunday Guardian article, and wish to strenuously defend the good work that is being undertaken by this programme.

Recognising addiction as a chronic, relapsing disease, the lack of care for any segment of this population whether incarcerated or otherwise, is a concern for the DTC and its stakeholders, as persons who do not receive treatment are likely to continue their substance use or abuse, which is often accompanied by criminal activity. We therefore support the provision of treatment services in all settings.

For further information kindly contact:
Jones P. Madeira
Court Protocol and Information Manager
Telephone: (Office Direct) 627 9744 (Mobile) 473 8158
E-Mail: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

 

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