The former head of the National Drug Council has been appointed as a judicial research analyst for the Cayman Islands court system.
Ms Chesnut |
One of Catherine Chesnut’s chief responsibilities will be organising and administering efforts to get the islands first drug rehabilitation court up and running.
‘We are fortunate to have Ms Chesnut as part of our team,’ said Chief Justice Anthony Smellie. ‘There are a number of important initiatives, some of which are already underway, that need administrative support and co-ordination. One such example is the Drug Treatment Court, which will be Ms Chesnut’s first project.’
In her role in the area of implementing the Drug Rehabilitation Court legislation, Ms Chesnut will serve as co-coordinator for operations. She will also oversee the introduction of all court-based initiatives under the Alternative Sentencing Law (2006).
‘The intention is to make sure that the necessary mechanisms, rules and programmes are in place to give full effect to the law,’ Mr. Smellie said. ‘To that end, it will be vital that there is both interagency and community co-operation.’
Ms Chesnut said that the significance of the Alternative Sentencing legislation cannot be overstated.
‘Many of the initiatives contained in the law will address many emerging areas of public concerns,’ she said. ‘The reality is that in the present state of the law, and because young offenders were not convicted for causing that damage, that outcome was inevitable,’ Ms Chesnut said, adding that the new law addresses this concern.
In appropriate cases the programmes to be introduced under the new law will provide opportunities for restitution to be made to victims, impact statements to be made by victims of crimes, and mediation among victims, offenders and, where necessary, family members.
‘The Alternative Sentencing Law, among its many initiatives to be implemented, provides for that sort of assistance as well as the imposition of orders for payment of restitution to victims,’ the Chief Justice said.
Ms Chesnut said that since a workshop held in February 2007 the Implementation Committee had advanced its planning for the drug court considerably.
An announcement of the court’s official start date will be made by the Chief Justice.
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