Guyana to open special court to help juvenile drug addicts

…to provide specialised treatment, alternate sentencing

Preparations are steaming ahead for the launch of Guyana’s first Adolescent/Juvenile Drug Treatment Court (DTC), which is aimed at rehabilitating drug abusers for their reintegration into society, the Supreme Court of Judicature has said.
In this regard, the Supreme Court, in collaboration with the United Nations Children Fund (UNICEF), is conducting a training workshop aimed at ‘Development of an Adolescent/Juvenile Drug Treatment Court, and the Strengthening of the Adult Drug Treatment Court’. The workshop, which began on Wednesday, ends today.
The Judiciary of Guyana has said it is aware that drug addiction has become a societal and public health issue, and that many drug addicts commit minor offences to support their habit.
The Judiciary has noted that, through sensitisation and training locally, regionally, and internationally, it is also aware that the treatment of persons with substance abuse disorders is a better response than punitive measures. The Judiciary explained that such a response gives persons the opportunity to enter long-term treatment programmes, and agree to court supervision.
The Judiciary explained that it has been found that participants who complete the programmes are also significantly less likely to be arrested again, compared to those who are sentenced with traditional punishments.

Problem-solving court
According to the Judiciary, a DTC is essentially a problem-solving court that seeks to address the needs of each participant, including their drug use as well as the criminal behaviour associated with it.
It is noted that these courts are an important tool in the fight against drug addiction, having a focus on the individual, to ensure that not only is justice served, but that the individual receives the support necessary to help them become, or resume being, productive, law-abiding persons.
64 persons are participating in this Supreme Court training workshop. They include persons from the Magistracy, and justice sector stakeholders/partners from the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP); Ministries of Home Affairs, Health, Education, Human Services and Social Security, and Culture, Youth and Sport; the Guyana Police Force (GPF); the Customs Anti-Narcotics Unit (CANU); the Guyana Legal Aid Clinic; the Linden Legal Aid Centre; the Guyana Forensic Science Laboratory; Phoenix Recovery Project; the Salvation Army, and Social Life Issues.
The overall aim of the workshop is to sensitise representatives of these partner agencies about the goals and objectives of the adult and adolescent drug treatment courts, and the roles they would be required to play as drug court team members.
Participants would learn about substance use and the effects of different substances; the various stages of adolescent development; assessing risk, needs and resilience of
adolescents in conflict with the law; the need for specialised interventions for adolescents; trauma and its impact on adolescents; and related issues such as gender considerations.
In addition, participants would identify support systems that are necessary for the success of the courts, including family support groups.
The coordinating facilitator of the workshop is Esther Best, Consultant at the Institutional Strengthening Unit, Executive Secretariat of the Organization of American States’ Inter-American Drug Abuse Control Commission (OAS.CICAD). The other facilitators include Dr. Travis Freeman, Drug Demand Reduction Project Director; and Wayne Hunte, Consultant, Ministry of Health. The date for the launch of the Adolescent/Juvenile DTC will be announced shortly.

CANU’s intervention
Cognisant that the use of illicit drugs is becoming more frequent among school children, CANU Head James Singh had earlier this month revealed that the agency is collaborating with the Education Ministry to tackle this issue. He explained that CANU, the Education Ministry, and other agencies are working to develop a programme that would see officials visiting schools to educate children on the ills of using drugs.
While the main target audience would be students, he said, the programme would see teachers playing a crucial role in its implementation and effectiveness.
“It’s not only about working with the students, but also working with the teachers. They must also be able to see the behavioural patterns of persons. That gives us a better idea if persons are on drugs or something else, so we can work with them also,” Singh explained.
Moreover, he revealed that the law enforcement agency has been doing a lot of work in communities to stop the use and sale of illegal drugs. He added: “We’re doing a lot of work in various communities, and the aim here is to target persons who are engaged in selling narcotics, regardless of where, whether it is close by a school or even in that community itself. That’s why again I will ask…if you know persons who are engaged in selling narcotics within your community anywhere, let us know confidentially, and we will take the necessary action.” (G1)