Law Society of Tasmania Criminal Law Conference 2023
TreatingOffendersSeriously
Thecasefortherapeuticjurisprudence
GlennHay&RobWhite
Tasmania 2023
AcknowledgementofCountry
Inrecognitionofthedeephistoryandcultureofthisislandwe acknowledgethetraditionalownersandcustodiansofthis landandelderspast,presentandemerging.
WeacknowledgethecontemporaryTasmanianAboriginal communitythepalawapeopleoflutruwitawhohave survivedinvasionanddispossession,andcontinuetomaintain theiridentity,cultureandIndigenousrights
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JailingisFailing
Thecurrentsystemofcriminaljusticedoeslittletodeter offending,isplaguedbyrecidivism,producesfuturecrime, andstigmatisesoffenders,victimsandcommunities.
Manyofthosecaughtupinthecriminaljusticesystemeither shouldnotbethereinthefirstplace(e.g.,thosewithbrain injurywhosebehaviourmaybeconsidereddeviantorunusual byauthorityfigures)orwillnothavetheirpersonalissues addressedbyimprisonmentand/orapunitiveresponse(e.g., peopleassociatedwithissuesarisingfromdrugandalcohol use).
Alternativestocurrentpracticeincludeproposalsand practicessuchasjusticereinvestmentandrestorativejustice andtherapeuticjurisprudenceapproaches.
DrugsandAnti-SocialBehaviour
Whatistherelationshipbetweeninvolvementindrugsand engagementincriminalandanti-socialbehaviour?
Drugsleadtocrimebecauseoftheneedtofundanexpensivedrughabit. Engagementincrimeleadstoincreasedsubstanceuse,because,for example,peopleengagedincrimetakedrugsandencouragenewcomers todothesame.
Itmightbejustthatthosewhotakedrugsandthosewhoengageincrime havecharacteristicsincommonandtheyarenotcausallyrelated
Whataretheeffectsofdrugs,legal(e.g.,alcohol)andillegaltakingbehaviour,especiallyviolence?
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Drugs,CrimeandCo-Morbidity
Thereisamajorproblemofco-morbidityamongstthose presentingtothecriminaljusticesystem.Forinstance, psychiatricwellbeingisintertwinedwithdruguse,andthesein turnarelinkedtoissuesofaccommodationandincome.
Polydruguseisprevalentamongthosemostdeeply implicatedinthecriminaljusticesystem.Theextentandnature ofdruguseisprofoundlysociallypatterned,withthemost publicandharmfulusesassociatedwithlowsocio-economic backgroundandthosewithfewsocialresources.
Harmfulandproblemdruguseisintrinsicallytiedintoissuesof co-morbiditythatis,theoverlappingproblemsof homelessness,abuse,familydifficulties,mentalillnessand deterioratingphysicalhealth.
RepairingHarm [dualityof responsibility] -Personalagency -Societalobligations ToOneself [treatment/ capacitybuilding] ToFamilies [socialbelonging] ToOthers [acknowledgement/ compensation] To Communities [community building] Past [whoweare, whatwasdone]
[whowewillbe, whatwecan do] 5 6
Future
DualityofResponsibility
Ontheonehand:
Offenderrehabilitationisasocietalimperative,tohelpbalance thesocialdisadvantagesandpersonalinjuriessufferedbymany offenders.
Societywillbenefitbygivingsomethingtotheoffenderinorder forthemtogobeyondoffending.
Ontheotherhand:
Takingresponsibilityrequirestheindividualoffendertohavean interestinmakingthingsright,inrepairingtheharm,in addressingthewrongs.
Theoffenderhastogivesomethingtosociety,tosomeoneelse, forthesakeofdoingtherightthing.
CanDoJustice
Therestorativeperspectiveisdrivenbytheideathatall offendersdeserverespectanddignity(theyarepersons), andthattheyalreadyhavebasiccompetenciesand capacitieswhichneedtobedevelopedfurther(iftheyare nottore-offend).
Theemphasisisonwhatthepersoncoulddo,ratherthan whattheyshoulddo.
Whatisimportantisthattheoffenderaccomplishesthings ataconcretelevel,forthemselves,includingmaking reparationtotheirvictim.
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StrategicForgiveness
Strategicuseofforgivenessisessentialinmotivatingpeople tomakethingsright,andtoinstigatechangesintheirown lifeforexample,probation/paroleisgrantedonthe conditionthattheytakeactioninsomeway,byrepairing harmandbyengaginginprogrammesandservicesthatwill enhancetheirpersonaldevelopmentandwellbeing.
Seatbeltssavelivesevenifwearingthemisbasedon coercion.Sometimesweneedtobecompelledtodothe rightthing.Thisisaboutchangingbehaviour.
EmpatheticForgiveness
Givingisoneofthemostmeaningfulactsforhumansand makesusfeelgoodaboutourselvesandtovaluetheworld andothersgenerallywecanrepairthedamageinways thatmakesenseandgeneratepride.Gettingprisonersto givesomethingbacktocommunitiescanchangehowthey feelaboutthosecommunitiesandaboutthemselves.
Forsomeoffenders,thisisapossiblechangefromwithin. Theyweartheseatbeltbecauseovertimetheyassociateit withtheirownsafety.Itisnolongerduetocompulsion.Thisis aboutchangingfeelingandthinking.
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Two-WayBenefit
Bothsocietyandtheoffenderbenefitfromtheoffendertaking socialandmoralresponsibilityforoffending.
Societythenfeelsjustifiedtohelpbalancethesocial disadvantagesandpersonalinjuriessufferedbymany offenders.
Bothsocietyandtheoffenderbenefitfromsocietygiving somethingtotheoffenderthathelpsthemtogobeyond offending
Buildingasenseofempathywithotherpeople,withvictims, withthemselvesisaboutbeingconnectedandsocial belonging.Doingsomethingmeaningfulcanassistthe processofbuildingcommunity.Sharedexperiencesand sharedknowledgehelpstocreate,maintainandbuilda (positive)communitywherenonemayhaveexistedbefore.
CoreInterventionConcepts
Nature,typeandextentofinterventionisnowbeing discussedinevergreaterdetailandcasemanagement modelsarebeingre-jiggedtoincorporatestrengthsbasedapproachesandconcepts.
reintegrationispremiseduponahighdegreeofclient participation,clientchoicesandclientengagement.
Theessentialneedforcollaborationandfora constellationofserviceshasbeenhighlightedacrossthe boardfordiverseinterventions.
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TheIdealPractice
Ideally,interventionstrategiesshouldinvolvepositive, activeparticipationof,andpartnershipsbetween, government,stateorganisations,non-government agenciesandthewidercommunity.
Ideally,community-buildingperspectivesseeissuessuch ascrimeandsafetyasbeingrelatedtowidersocial problemssuchasunemploymentandsubstanceabuse.
Ideally,community-orientedmeasuresaremeanttobe aboutsocialinclusionthroughavarietyofmeasuresthat enhancecommunityparticipationandtheuseand availabilityoflocalresourcesthroughcommunity developmentstrategies.
WhatisTherapeuticJurisprudence?
Therapeutic
referstotreatmentortherapyandthetakingofremedial actiontoaddressaproblemorcondition
Jurisprudence
refersatheory,perspectiveorphilosophyoflawthatguides judicialofficialssuchasmagistratesandjudgesintheuseof law-in-practice
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ImplicationsofTJ
TherapeuticJurisprudencearguesforlawreformsthatcentreon:
addressingcriminaltendenciesthroughtreatmentandrehabilitation mitigatingthenegativeeffectsofoffendingbydealingwiththeir underlyingcauses
promotingpositivebehaviouralchangeandtheenhancementof individualwellbeing.
Thisrehabilitationapproachoccursalongsidejusticeprinciples,such ascommunityprotection,offenderaccountabilityanddesistance.
JusticeandTJ
Inthisframework,justiceis:
somethingdoneforyou(intheformoftreatment)and
somethingdonebyyou(intheformoftakingresponsibilityin yourrehabilitationprocess).
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Drug-relatedoffendingandTJ
Theresponsetodrugoffendinghasgenerallybeen weightedtowardaharmminimisationmodel.
Thepointofinterventionisatleasttwofold:
toprovideforareductioninorcessationofdruguse;and
toprovideforareductioninorcessationofdrugordrugrelatedoffending
Problem-solvingCourts
Courtsascasemanagers: primaryfunctionofthecourtistoworkcollaborativelywith partneragenciesincasemanagementandprogramme deliveryforeachoffender
courtmaintainssignificantandongoingcontactwiththe offendertoenhancerehabilitation
e.g.,drugcourts,mentalimpairmentcourts
Courtsasdiversionaryoperatorsandcasemonitors:
levelofjudicialmonitoringisperiodicandprimarilyforcase determination
areviewprocessprovidesinformationforconsiderationin sentencing
e.g.,drugcourtdiversionprogrammes,familyviolencecourts
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CourtMandatedDiversion-Tasmania
TheCourtMandatedDiversion(CMD)programisa Tasmania,andsinceFebruary2017intheSupremeCourt. SentencingtoaDrugTreatmentOrder(DTO)isadecision thatismadebytheCourt.
Itisatherapeuticjurisprudenceapproachdesignedtoassist peoplewithademonstrableillicitdruguseproblemwhose druguseislinkedwiththeiroffending.
CMDaimstobreakthedrug-crimecycleusingtheauthority ofthecourttoensurethatoffendersaccesstheservicesand treatmentnecessarytoaddresstheissuesthatcontributeto theirdruguseandoffending.
CMDEligibility
TobeeligibletobesentencedtoaDrugTreatmentOrderthe followingconditionsmustbemet:
Be18yearsofageorover
Haveenteredpleasofguiltyorhavebeenfoundguiltytoalloffencesreferredfor assessmenttotheCMDprogram
Befacingapenaltyofimprisonmentfortheoffencesthatwouldnototherwisebewhollyor partiallysuspendediftheywerenotbeingassessedfortheprogram
Haveademonstrablehistoryofillicitdrugusethatcontributedtotheoffencescurrently beforetheMagistrate
BewillingtoparticipateinsupervisedtreatmentwiththeCMDprogram
ApersonisnoteligibletobesentencedtoaDrugTreatment Orderifthey:
HavesexualoffencesoutstandinginanyCourt
Haveoffencesinvolvingtheinflictionofactualbodilyharmthatisnotconsideredminor outstandinginanyCourt
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GeneralFeatures
ADTOincludesacustodialcomponent.Thisisatermof imprisonmentthattheCourthasimposedfortheoffences attachedtotheDTO.Thecustodialcomponentiseffectively'on hold'whilsttheparticipantmaintainsengagementwithCMDand complieswiththeconditionsoftheDTO.Shouldtheparticipant nolongermeettheseconditions,theCourtisabletoactivatethe custodialcomponentofthesentence.
ADTOhasnosettimelimit;however,itmustbereviewedbythe Courtat24monthsfromthecommencementdate.
Usually,participantswilltakebetween18and24monthsto completetheprogram.ADTOiscomprisedofthreephases, whichalso,havenosettimelimit.Progressionthroughthephases isaresultoftheparticipant'sperformance:
Stabilisation
Consolidationand
Reintegration.
Obligations
OffenderssentencedtoaDTOhavemanyrestrictionsplacedonthem andarerequiredtomeetvariousobligations,tohelpsupportthe individualtobreakthedrug-crimecycleandrecoverfromdrugabuse. WhilstonaDTOanoffendermustabstainfromallillicitdruguse.Other conditionsthataregenerallyincludedonaDTOarethattheoffender must:
Submittoregular,randomurinalysis
Attendregularface-to-facecasemanagementappointmentswithaCDO AttendregularcourtreviewswithaMagistrate
Attendindividualcounsellingandgroupprograms
AdditionalconditionsaddedtoaDTOduringthecourseofanordertobetter courtortheirsupervisingCDO
TheMagistratehasanongoingroleinregularlyreviewingtheprogressof individualsonaDTOthroughregularcourtappearances.TheywillasktheCourt DiversionOfficer(CDO)toprovideprogressreportsregardingtheoffender's participationintheprogramforeachcourtreview.
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Penalties-Tasmania
ThesanctionsassociatedwithCMDprogramsfocuson negativeconsequencesifoffendersfailtofulfillcertain obligations.
Verbalwarning
Increasedsupervision numberofcourtappearances
counseling
drugtesting
daysofimprisonment
Cancellationoftheorder
Returntoanearlierprogramphase
Incentives
SentencingAct1997Section27KCompliancereward, Sub-section1(d)Conferringontheoffenderanyotherreward thatthecourtconsidersappropriate.
VerbalPraise
Decreasedfrequencyofcourtvisits supervisions
drugtesting
communitywork
periodsofimprisonment
Removalofsanctiondays,thusreducingthebalanceofdays tobeserved
Movingtothenextphase
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DrugCourtOutcomes
Adropinrecidivismrates[i.e.,engagementin offending]forthosewhopartakeintreatmentprograms comparedtocustodialsentences
Treatmentgroupshavegreaterdeclineinoffending frequency[i.e.,numberofoccasionsofoffending]than non-treatmentgroups
Treatmentgroupsoffendatlowerrate[i.e.,numberof offences]thannon-treatmentgroupandmanyachieve totalabstinenceaftergraduatingfromtheprogram
JustDesserts
EstablishedinTasmaniain2017,withrepresentationfromavarietyof organisationsandindividuals,JustDessertswasformedtoassistand complementtheworkoftheCourtMandatedDrug(CMD) treatmentprogramoftheMagistratesCourt.
Rewardsareavailableforindividualsexhibitingconforming behaviourandthatrecognisespecialefforts.Incentivestopositively engageinsuchprogramscanalsobenefitfromadditionalideasand inputfromindependentgroupssuchasJustDessertsthatinteract withbutarenonethelessseparatefromtheofficialinstitutionsof governmentalcontrol.
ofthedruguseequation.Workingwithcommunitymembers,thekey taskistoestablishandmaintainawiderangeofvaluableitemsand servicesforuseinrewardingparticipantsintheCMDprogramasthey achievevariousstage-relatedgoals.
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AimsofJustDesserts
Toassistthedrugcourtinprovidingtangiblerewardstooffendersinaway thatistransparentandsupportsthepracticesoftheprogram;
Toprovidealinkbetweenthecommunityandthedrugcourtbybeingthe keygroupforthetangiblerewardsscheme,steeringfundraisingeffortsand ensuringasuccessfulcollaborationbetweenlocalcharities,corporatesand thedrugcourt;
Todiscussissuesofconcernsuchascriticisms,andensureappropriate rewardsareacquiredthroughcommunicationwiththepublic,theChief MagistrateandCommunityCorrections.
Tobeapositivepromoterofthetherapeuticjusticecourtsoperatingin Tasmaniainordertoincreasepublicawarenessandmusterlocalsupport; TooperateasapartnerwiththeMagistratesCourtwithrespecttothe promotionofthedrugcourt;and
TooperatewithintherulesandproceduresoftheLawSocietyandother relevantlawsandregulations.
WhatWeDo
Collectincentives(e.g.,teddybears)foroffenders engagedinthedrugdiversionprogram
Raisemoneytobuysuitableincentives(e.g.,movie tickets)
Speaktocommunitygroups(e.g.,Rotary)aboutcriminal justiceissues
Participateincommunityforumsdealingwithcriminal justiceandalternativestoincarceration
Distributeinformationaboutdrugdiversionalternatives andrelatedprogressivecriminaljusticereforms(e.g., briefingpapers)
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WhatWeDoNOTdo
JustDessertsisnotpartoftheformalsystemofcriminaljustice andcourtsinTasmania.
equation.
ItisorientedtowardpositiveoutcomesforCMDclientsand positiveinteractionsbetweenoffendersandtherestofthe Tasmaniancommunitynowandintothefuture.
IncentivesandInnovations
1.Tailoringtheincentivetotheindividualandtheirspecific circumstances
Foodvouchers
Bustickets
Vouchersfortangiblegoods
Footballgametickets
Toysforchildren
Booksandbookvouchers
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Incentivesovertime
2.Pickingtherightmomentsandspecialoccasionstoprovide
Significantmilestones(suchas50,100,250or365drugfree days)
ProgressiontoPhase2(StabilisationtoConsolidation)
ProgressiontoPhase3(ConsolidationtoReintegration)
Graduationwhereparticipantsreceiveacertificate,a personalisedgift(e.g.,aclock,keyring,book)andacake
Respondingpositivelytocomplex problems
Theproblemisnotsimplyoneofconsumption,production,andsupply ofprohibitedsubstances.Amajorissueistheeffectofpsychoactive others.
Althoughtherelationshipbetweendruguseandantisocialbehaviouris notdirect,itisclearthatitiscloselyassociatedwithdamagingeffects, fromviolenceoutsidepubsandclubstodangerousdriving.Noristhe harmlimitedtovictims,sincemanydrugsalsohaveserioushealth consequencesforusers.
Forthesereasons,anyconsiderationofdrugusenecessarilycrossesthe boundariesbetweencriminaljustice,healthandwelfare,and education.Respondingtodruguseandabuserequiresbotha sensitivitytosocialcontextandanappreciationofadoptingholistic andmultifacetedapproaches.
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JustDessertsResources:BriefingPapers
#1CourtMandatedDiversion#2RewardsandIncentives
#3JustDesserts:DrugCourtIncentivesGroup
#4 WeSupporttheDoingofGood
#5DoingJusticetoJustice#6 SoWhatDoes?
#7CommunityOptionsareBetterthanPrisons#8AlternativestoIncarceration
#9JusticeReinvestment#10GraduatingfromCMD
#11RestorativeJustice#12TherapeuticJurisprudence
#13DrugCourts#14ProblemSolvingCourts
#15SentencingReformandJudicialAppointments
#16WomenonaDrugTreatmentOrder
SomeFinalThoughts
Wedonotrewardoffendingbutwedoprovideincentives forhealing
Individualsarepartofcommunities,whicharepartof societieshealingisacollectiveprojectwithindividual, communalandsocietalbenefits
Buildingpositivefuturesisfarmoreimportantthansimply penalisingpeoplefortheirpastsconsequencesmatter Thereisadualityofresponsibilityonthepartoftheindividual (fortheharmsassociatedwithoffending)andsociety(forthe harmsassociatedwithsocialcircumstance)allmust contributetothewellbeingofall
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