Inspector of Prisons calls for new courts system

THE Inspector of Prisons has called for a new courts system which would address the causes of criminality rather than criminalise offenders.

Judge Michael Reilly said evaluations of such systems in other countries had found a “marked decrease in low-level crime”.

He said the system, called Problem Solving Justice, included a range of courts: community courts; drug courts; domestic violence courts and mental health courts. “The concept of Problem Solving Justice is what is says. It is using the main players of the existing criminal justice system to address the underlying problems that have led to low levels of criminality,” said Judge Reilly.