Suriname explores the creation of a pilot drug treatment court for drug-dependent offenders
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| Published on Friday, October 30, 2009 |
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PARAMARIBO, Suriname -- The government of Suriname is exploring the creation of a drug treatment court for drug-dependent offenders, with support from the Court and Prosecutor’s Office of Ghent, Belgium and the University of Ghent.
This is part of an ongoing program called EU-LAC Drug Treatment City Partnerships to Improve Drug Treatment, financed by the European Union, and executed by the Inter-American Drug Abuse Control Commission (CICAD), Secretariat for Multidimensional Security of the Organization of American States (OAS).
The Surinamese Ministry of Justice and Police and the Ministry of Health organized a three-day workshop to examine the legal and health implications of setting up a drug court as a productive alternative to incarceration.
The Minister of Justice and Police of Suriname, the representative of the Minister of Health, the Attorney General, Supreme Court Judge Ramnewash, the representative of the Organization of American States F Bramble, members of the Supreme court, prosecution, the chairman of the judicial commission of the Ministry of Justice and Police attended the session.
Research has shown that long-term monitoring and supervision by a drug court judge of an offender’s adherence to a treatment plan can significantly reduce recidivism and relapse into drug use by those offenders who successfully complete the program.
If the Surinamese Government moves ahead with a drug court, the country would join Canada, Chile, the United States, Australia, Bermuda, Belgium, Ireland, Norway, the Cayman Islands, Jamaica and the United Kingdom in operating such courts. | | | | Reads : 355 | | | |
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