Government urged to test Community Court

The Oireachtas Justice Committee has called on the Government to test a new Community Court to deal with local crimes.

The committee said Community Courts not only sanction offenders, but provide remedies for both the criminal and the affected areas. The courts have been in operation in parts of the US, Australia and Britain and have reduced reoffending rates by up to 10%.

Publishing a report on Community Courts, the committee said the courts deal with crimes such as drug use and street drug dealing, theft, alcohol-related crimes and graffiti.