People who come before the courts can have a complex underlying psycho-social needs and criminogenic risks that contributed to their involvement in the criminal justice system, including substance use, mental ill-health, social exclusion and/or unstable housing. Without access to support these factors are likely to remain and so to, cyclical engagement with the criminal justice system. The Magistrates’ Court of Victoria (MCV) runs a range of mainstream court support programs and specialist courts Informed by principles of therapeutic jurisprudence, these programs and initiatives seek to improve the court’s response to people experiencing complex needs. MCV’s therapeutic justice interventions traverse a continuum of support – seeking to provide the right support at the right time, balancing the support offered with the level of individual need and appropriate length of engagement with the criminal justice system. MCV programs support individuals to remain in the community – while the underlying problems that could otherwise lead to their further engagement with the criminal justice system are addressed. This presentation will give those working with people coming before the court a working knowledge of MCV programs. We will discuss observations from the pilot of the Navigation and Triage service and draw on findings from a recent independent outcome evaluation of Victorian Drug Courts that included the direct experiences of Drug Court participants. The presentation will explore how MCV programs can improve reintegration outcomes through individualised and evidence-based support for people with complex needs and reducing system barriers through multi-disciplinary teams and collaboration across justice sector agencies.
Presenters
Evylyn is an experienced evaluator who has worked with an extensive range of agencies across Australia’s justice and social sector to create an improved evidence-base for the delivery of policy, programs and services to Australian communities. Evylyn is currently the Principal Evaluation Lead for the Magistrate’s Court of Victoria’s Specialist Courts and Programs. Her work is focused on demonstrating the important impact that therapeutic justice initiatives can have for individual court users, their families, the courts, the wider justice system and the Victorian community. Evylyn has over two decades experience working as an evaluation consultant and in internal evaluation roles across the Victorian Public Sector.
Beth has an extensive career in the criminal justice system and is passionate about opportunities to make justice system processes and outcomes fairer and more effective, particularly through integrated system responses. Within the Magistrates’ Court setting, Beth has led a number of substantial reform initiatives that have improved service design, increased funding and service reach as well as contributed to the evidence base for Victorian therapeutic courts and programs.
Magistrate Spencer was appointed as a magistrate in 2006. She currently sits at the Melbourne Magistrates’ Court and is the Head of Division, Specialist Courts providing judicial leadership across the court’s therapeutic programs. Prior to her appointment, Magistrate Spencer worked as a lawyer in private practice as principal legal officer for the Fitzroy Legal Service and as executive officer of the Federation of Community Legal Centres – the peak body for over 50 community legal centres in Victoria. Magistrate Spencer has an interest in therapeutic jurisprudence, improved responses to family violence and how the court can improve links with the community it serves.
