As the problem of drug addiction seems to be never-ending, with the increasing number of people using it. When one is involved in drugs, nothing good can actually come out of it. This only triggers a person to commit criminal acts. When an act is committed and the person gets caught, his or her life will be different when inside the prison. But it’s a good thing that the government is doing something about it. So, those inmates who are suffering from mental illness, alcoholism, and drug addiction will be diverted away from prison into a compulsory treatment.
As these people have been once under the influence of drugs, they may have a different behavior when in prison, so this initiative is a good one. Also, this will help them undergo treatment, just like when outside with addiction treatment centers. This means that even when they are inside, they can still receive help and hopefully, change and live a better life.
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Criminals suffering from mental illness, alcoholism and drug addiction will be diverted away from prison and into compulsory treatment under a government pilot.
The Ministry of Justice aims to reduce reoffending by replacing “ineffective” short prison sentences with programmes that “will tackle the root causes of criminality”.
A judge said the scheme could help “nip in the bud” some of the major causes of crime, as statistics show significant proportions of offenders have mental health problems, or are affected by drug and alcohol addictions.
David Gauke, the justice secretary, has been pushing against the use of short prison sentences amid a crisis driving drug abuse and record self-harm and violence in overcrowded jails.
“We are all clear that we need to do more to support vulnerable offenders in the community,” he is to say while announcing the programme in Northampton.
“I want to improve confidence in community sentences, and early evidence from these sites has shown that treatment requirements can have a significant impact in improving rehabilitation and addressing the underlying causes of offending.