Clare Senator Tony Mulcahy has said a proposal to establish a Community Courts system in Ireland, similar to those operating in the United States and the United Kingdom, is an idea “worth exploring”.
The Shannon-based Senator is a member of the Joint Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality, which is undertaking a study on the feasibility of introducing the system.
Senator Mulcahy said evidence from other jurisdictions such as the USA, UK, Australia and Canada, suggests that Community Courts give communities “an opportunity to directly address local crime and safety concerns.”
“The Joint Oireachtas Committee recently invited submissions from anyone who has direct or indirect experience of dealing with the judicial system and their views on whether a Community Courts system would be beneficial. All submissions received will help guide the proposed feasibility study,” explained Senator Mulcahy.
The Fine Gael Senator added that the Community Courts system has shown to be “a successful method of bridging the gap between communities and courts, as well as helping offenders deal with problems that lead to crime”.
He continued: “There are a number of specific offences that could potentially be dealt with by Community Courts in this country, including criminal damage, drunk and disorderly conduct, assault and petty theft. Community Courts elsewhere have proven to be proactive in dealing with the underlying problems of defendants. For example, a problem-solving approach to such offenders is adopted by Community Courts which use a range of health and social services. The system also leads to some defendants undertaking community work to make some reparation for their offending in that community.”
Senator Mulcahy is a member of the Joint Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality, alongside fellow Clare Senator Martin Conway, Senators Ivana Bacik, Rónán Mullen, Denis O’Donovan and Katherine Zappone, and Deputies Seán Kenny, Pádraig MacLochlainn, Finian McGrath, John Paul Phelan, and David Stanton (Chairman).
The Shannon-based Senator is a member of the Joint Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality, which is undertaking a study on the feasibility of introducing the system.
Senator Mulcahy said evidence from other jurisdictions such as the USA, UK, Australia and Canada, suggests that Community Courts give communities “an opportunity to directly address local crime and safety concerns.”
“The Joint Oireachtas Committee recently invited submissions from anyone who has direct or indirect experience of dealing with the judicial system and their views on whether a Community Courts system would be beneficial. All submissions received will help guide the proposed feasibility study,” explained Senator Mulcahy.
The Fine Gael Senator added that the Community Courts system has shown to be “a successful method of bridging the gap between communities and courts, as well as helping offenders deal with problems that lead to crime”.
He continued: “There are a number of specific offences that could potentially be dealt with by Community Courts in this country, including criminal damage, drunk and disorderly conduct, assault and petty theft. Community Courts elsewhere have proven to be proactive in dealing with the underlying problems of defendants. For example, a problem-solving approach to such offenders is adopted by Community Courts which use a range of health and social services. The system also leads to some defendants undertaking community work to make some reparation for their offending in that community.”
Senator Mulcahy is a member of the Joint Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality, alongside fellow Clare Senator Martin Conway, Senators Ivana Bacik, Rónán Mullen, Denis O’Donovan and Katherine Zappone, and Deputies Seán Kenny, Pádraig MacLochlainn, Finian McGrath, John Paul Phelan, and David Stanton (Chairman).
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