PHILIPSBURG–The criminal justice system in St. Maarten is simply not equipped to handle addicts and persons with mental disorders who have come into contact with law enforcement. These are the findings of the Law Enforcement Council in a recent report compiled on the topic.
The Council believes that on the one hand the Justice system is experiencing overburdening by these groups and on the other hand is obliged to deal with problems for which it is not equipped or is being equipped.
Seeing what is at stake, the Council hopes the Minister of Justice will soon address the legal, administrative and policy framework, through which a basis will be created for the structure, cooperation and organisation of facilities for the criminal justice system to handle those addicts and persons with mental disorders who break the law. To this end, the Council has made four recommendations.
Pursuant to the Kingdom Act on the Law Enforcement Council, the Minister of Justice will be given the opportunity to send the relevant advice of the Council to Parliament within six weeks, along with his policy response.