Support at Court
Support at Court (Magistrates Court) – tackling the issues behind offending behaviour
Problem Solving aims to help defendants, victims, witnesses, other court users and the community as a whole. Most often it will be defendants who are referred by the magistrate to a variety of supporting services.
Problem Solving intends to tackle the issues behind low-level offending by connecting courts to a network of external services who will accept referrals from the court.
It puts people in touch with organisations that can help address issues that may contribute to offending behaviour, such as debt or housing.
What will actually happen?
• A person appears in court charged with an offence and the magistrate may feel there is some problematic issue that may be contributing to their offending behaviour.
• There are many organisations that want to help people. The magistrate can recommend the person use the services of that organisation.
• Some service providers even choose to send representatives to sit in court and take referrals directly.
• Problem Solving is not a community order and does not form any part of a community order.
People who have broken the law will continue to be punished appropriately
However, criminal justice professionals see everyday that there are a number of factors which keep people in patterns of behaviour or environments which make it more likely that more crime will be committed.
By breaking this cycle and offering people opportunities to step away from these factors in their lives, we can hopefully make our communities safer.
“A survey of victims of non-violent crime for the Ministry of Justice in October 2007 found that while punishment was seen as the most important part of a criminal’s sentence (49%), ‘payback’ was the second most important (43%) and ‘rehabilitation’ third (36%)”
(Engaging Communities in Fighting Crime: A review by Louise Casey, 2008)
Q: Offenders will agree to anything in the courtroom. Who’s to say they will actually take up the referral?
It is not the role of Problem Solving to enforce referral uptake or to supervise the effectiveness of the service providers’ services. We want to provide the opportunity for people who may not otherwise seek out help, to get help.
Q: Will this reduce the seriousness of the court room setting?
Normal procedures will remain, but the magistrates speaking directly to the defendant will mean the defendant sees that the court wants not only to punish but also to extend an offer of help to those that want to help themselves. It is hoped this will provide an incentive to defendants to address their behaviour whilst continuing to impose sentences which reflect the seriousness of the offence.
Q: What happens in the Dyfed Powys Courts?
In all the Courts in Dyfed Powys all staff and Magistrates have access to a “Directory of Services”. This is a quick reference guide to enable people to make appointments with support organisations available in the local community. In some Courts, those organisations have arranged for their staff or their volunteers to be actually present on certain Court days. In Aberystwyth (Weds) and Welshpool (Tues), Bro Ddyfi Advice Centre volunteers are on hand to assist. In Cardigan (Thurs) and Carmarthen (Weds), the Citizens Advice Bureau sends representatives and in Ammanford (Thurs) and Llanelli (Fri), the Llanelli Communities First Debt and Benefit Project send volunteers to Court. In Llandrindod Wells (Weds), a volunteer from the Llandrindod Wells and District Volunteer Bureaux attends to help make appointments and assist with completing forms.
In the future, a number of the Courts will have a touch screen information centre installed to supplement the service provided by the volunteers – this equipment will be available for all Court users every day of the week and will include a telephone facility to contact support organisations directly.