…Signs second MOU with NCDA

The Ministry of Justice in Jamaica has renewed its support for the Drug Treatment Court and Rehabilitation Programme with the signing of another memorandum of understanding (MOU) with the National Council on Drug Abuse (NCDA).

The ministries of national security and health and wellness are also signatories to the agreement, which covers the period January 2021 to January 2024.

Justice Minister Delroy Chuck, who signed the agreement at his 61 Constant Spring Road head office on January 20, said the programme with NCDA, which began in 2015, has yielded much success in rehabilitating participants.

He cited as an example the fact that “parish court judges in the drug treatment courts have referred many cases to the rehabilitation treatment programme and they have been asking for more opportunities for addicts to get help and avoid getting a criminal record”.

NCDA Executive Director Michael Tucker, who also signed the MOU, underscored the importance of the programme.

Programme looks at drug abuse as a health and not legal issue

According to Tucker, “incarceration without adequate treatment and rehabilitation doesn’t really help as the addiction continues. Therefore, this is a programme that recognises that this is a health issue and the approach assists people to return to constructive and useful members of society”.

Under the renewed MOU, the justice ministry will continue to provide policy support and direction for the Drug Court and facilitate early assignment of defence counsels. The ministry will also collaborate with the judiciary through the Court Administration Division.

At present, there are five drug courts across the island. They provide treatment and rehabilitation of drug- dependent offenders.

Approximately 500 people have benefited from the programme since the first MOU was signed.

The NCDA boss thanked Chuck and his colleague ministers for supporting the programme, stressing that drug addiction has to be treated as an illness.