Drugs courts: Justice system that aims to rehabilitate

A new pilot project to introduce American-style ‘drug courts’ to Northern Ireland is being developed. They are courts aimed at keeping drug users out of prison and getting them into treatment. A senior American judge is in Belfast to advise local judges, politicians and others working in the criminal justice system about how they operate.
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New Dundalk judge wants to set up first ever ‘drugs court’ in this region

A newly appointed judge for County Louth has said he would like to set up the first ‘drugs court’ in the North East. Judge John Coughlan is now the permanent sitting judge at Dundalk and Drogheda district court. Wednesday was the first time Judge Coughlan sat in his official capacity as the new sitting judge
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Drug Treatment Court: Life-saving option for drugs offenders

Dublin’s Drug Treatment Court is one of the few courts in the world which advertises its services to offenders. “We go to treatment centres around the city and meet the staff and try and sell the message about the court,” said its supervisor Tom Ward. “We want them to tell people who might be up
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Despite Unclear Future, the Drug Court Pushes On

In Dublin’s District Court, just off Chancery Street, the courtroom window is open and lets in the ding-ding sound of the Luas as it takes off from the Four Courts stop. Against a backdrop of bright yellow walls, everyone is quite laid back. Names are scraped into the wooden benches and people can be seen texting every so often
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