The National Crime Council publishes its latest report - Problem Solving Justice -The Case for Community Courts in Ireland.

Embargoed to 5 P.M. on Wednesday 2nd May, 2007

A report presented by the National Crime Council to Mr. Michael McDowell, Tánaiste and Minister for Justice, Equality & Law Reform today recommends the establishment of Community Courts in Ireland, the first such Court to be located in Dublin’s inner city. Community Courts, which started in the United States, are now being developed in many countries as an example of "problem solving justice" to deal with offenders of less grave crimes which have a material impact on the "quality of life" of citizens.

Padraic White, Chairman of the National Crime Council, in presenting the Report to Minister McDowell, said that there was an outstanding opportunity to develop a successful Community Court in Dublin city centre covering the Store Street and Pearse Street  Garda station areas.  The proposed Community Court would, he said, "complement the planned Business Improvement Districts (BIDs) initiative in Dublin city centre which will involve businesses contributing a special levy to a fund for the enhancement and upgrading of the area." He said that a third positive element in the area is the North Inner City Community Policing Forum which is well established and whose work would complement the new Community Court and the BIDs initiative.

Padraic White cited examples of the type of offence to be dealt with by the Community Court as drunk and disorderly conduct, assault, criminal damage, graffiti and petty theft.

He said that "Community Courts take a problem-solving approach to such offenders, using a range of health and social services while some defendants may be required to undertake community work in the neighbourhood to make some reparation for their offending in that neighbourhood."

The National Crime Council Chairman paid special tribute to Judge Michael Reilly the Council member who chaired the subgroup responsible for the Report and thanked Judge Mary Collins and Olive Caulfield of the Courts Service who had participated in the work.

Judge Michael Reilly elaborated on the rationale and operation of the proposed Community Courts. He said that the introduction of Community Courts would ensure that the system could be seen to be proactive in dealing with the underlying problems of defendants because the court would have available to it a range of problem solving options such as speedy access to social and other services thereby contributing to breaking the cycle of re-offending. It would also ensure reparation to the community by instant monitored community work in appropriate cases.

Editors Note ;
Established by the Minister for Justice in 1999, the Council’s fifteen members with the assistance of the Director and her staff, act as an advisory group to the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform on crime policy. It can determine its own priorities or respond to specific requests for research or advice from the Minister.

The Council has produced reports on Crime Trends in Ireland, on Public Order Offences, on a Crime Prevention Strategy with a particular focus on local county and community involvement, a pioneering study on all aspects of domestic abuse towards women and men and, last year, research into the time intervals which occur in the investigation and prosecution of the offences of murder and rape. These reports have influenced policy in very tangible ways. The current programme of the Council also features an in-depth focus on the multiple dimensions of the ‘Fear of Crime’ in Ireland.

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