Jack Straw praises Groundbreaking Problem-Solving Courts in Leeds

Justice Secretary Jack Straw today praised Leeds Magistrates' Court for its groundbreaking work to protect the public and reduce reoffending.

Mr Straw is meeting those involved in Leeds Dedicated Drugs Court and Specialist Domestic Violence Court today, ranging from criminal justice practitioners to an ex-offender, to talk about their experience of the schemes.

The two problem-solving court models have been at the forefront of developing a more effective criminal justice system since late 2005, when they were started with the aim of furthering the strong work of existing local initiatives.

Mr Straw said:

'Leeds Magistrates' Court is among those to have pioneered the approach of using problem-solving courts to tackle the underlying problems associated with criminal behaviour in order to better protect the public.

'The whole community stands to benefit from the way Dedicated Drug Courts provide continuity and firm supervision for offenders who may come from chaotic backgrounds, in order to break the cycle of reoffending. Specialist Domestic Violence Courts bring together a range of specialists to safeguard victims and families and to deal with offenders.'

Ex-Offender Manoj had used drugs for years before being sentenced to a Community Order with a Drug Rehabilitation Requirement (DRR) managed by the Leeds Dedicated Drugs Court as part of his sentence. He said:

'The DRR helped me to sort my life out. I had to be tested twice a week and went to a review each month with the same panel of magistrates in the Dedicated Drug Court. We got to know each other. Once or twice early on when they could see that I needed a push they were able to do that. Now I’m clean and not involved in crime and I’m living a normal life with a job and a girlfriend.'

Carol Wurr, Chair of the Dedicated Drug Court panel at Leeds Magistrates’ Court, said:

'I am a strong advocate of Dedicated Drug Courts in Leeds because they work. These are problem-solving courts, and key to this is that the magistrates who sentence an offender will follow up with them every month until the end of their Drug Rehabilitation Requirement. This helps them to achieve a stable and drug-free lifestyle and cease offending.'

Ms Nik Peasgood, Director of independent domestic violence advocacy service HALT Domestic Violence, said:

'The Specialist Domestic Violence Court creates a strong partnership between the different agencies in the city who will work on a case. This means that the court has a full picture of the circumstances of each case and is better equipped to protect victims and families and to deliver justice.'

Features of Specialist Domestic Violence Courts include separate entrances and waiting facilities for victims and witnesses, and specially trained independent advisers and criminal justice practitioners. Cases are often listed together in specific court hearings so that all specialist resources are in the same place on the same day. There are now 127 Specialist Domestic Violence Courts, well ahead of the government's deadline to create 128 by 2011.

Dedicated drug courts work by ensuring that the same magistrates or district judge sits throughout a case involving one offender, allowing them to keep track of the offender's progress, motivate them to comply with the order and receive an early warning if there is any relapse and apply sanctions if necessary. Offenders are also required to undergo regular drug tests and are subject to stringent drug rehabilitation orders.

During his visit to the city, Mr Straw will also visit Leeds University to speak to students and staff.

Notes to editors

1. Building on local model that had existed in Leeds since 2001, the original dedicated drug court pilots were launched at Leeds and West London Magistrates' Courts in December 2005. The pilot scheme was extended to four other courts in Barnsley, Cardiff, Salford and Bristol in April 2008, after an evaluation indicated they can have a positive impact on reoffending, court attendance and compliance by offenders.

2. Building on a local model already operating in Leeds since 2003, Leeds Specialist Domestic Violence Court was established in October 2005, in the first round of the new SDVCs.

3. Any further media enquiries on this press release should be directed to the Ministry of Justice Press Office on 020 3334 3536.

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