RECENT EVOLUTIONS OF QUASI-COERCED TREATMENT IN THE BELGIAN CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM

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RECENT EVOLUTIONS OF QUASI-COERCED TREATMENTIN
THE BELGIAN CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM

• Thematic meeting on monitoring and evaluating
  national experience with quasi coerced treatment
• Criminal Justice Platform, May 27, 2010
• Karel Berteloot

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Introduction

• Department for Criminal policy
• Philosophy Belgian drug users policy document of
  2001 and 2010
• Public health issue
• Prevention gt treatment gt punishment
• Criminal reaction alternative sanctions

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1. General provisions

• Police gt prosecutor gt examining magistrate gt
  court gt execution
• General possibilities concerning drug related
  offenders on prosecutorial level
• Dismiss of a case (possibly praetorian
  probation)
• Payment of a sum of money (settlement), only
  for small offences
• For small and medium offences mediation
• Set up a judicial inquiry
• Bring to trial

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2. Test Care (Proefzorg)

• Since 2005 Ghent region
• prosecutorial power to dismiss a case
• praetorian probation conditional dismissal
• without a legal framework
• Short or long test care track
• Users public nuisance small trade to finance
  own taking minors

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• Evaluation
• Fills in a gap in the criminal justice system
• Better cooperation between judicial authorities
  and treatment facilities by means of
• Bridging functions
• Clear reporting
• Clear barriers
• Partnership
• Lessons for other regions
• Dialogue
• Uniform criminal policy
• Case management
• Funding

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3. Narcotic Adviser (Conseiller stratégique
drogue)

• Since 2005 Liège region
• Similar to Ghent system praetorian probation

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• Provisional evaluation
• Clear arrangements definitions
• Sufficient funding
• Net widening
• Complete guidance or support, not only treatment
• Need for drug court

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4. National implementation

• Three options for legal framework
• - seperate regulation for drug users
• - adaptation of current mediation regulations
• - general provision on dissolution of charges at
  prosecutorial level
• Points of interest
• - which criminal offences?
• - due process of law
• - net widening
• - general policy (justice public health)

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5. Drug treatment court (Drugbehandelingskamer)

• Since 2008 Ghent region
• Ultimum remedium principle
• Postponement verdict
• Failed test care
• Failed mediation (if victim)
• Trade to support own drug abuse
• Drug related crime
• Minors

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• Provisional evaluation
• Added value towards Test Care
• Close follow up
• Difference with probation
• Recommendations
• Attention for general guidance and sufficient
  support
• Networking
• Sufficient capacity social service sector
• Clear barriers
• Maximise judicial pressure
• Rehabilitation
• Coordinator

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6. Conclusions

• Let the cobbler stick to his last
• Cooperation information
• Funding
• Due process of law

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QUESTIONS?

• Karel Berteloot
• www.strafrechtelijkbeleid.be
• www.politiquecriminelle.be