Friday 04 March 2022
More than 850 people have so far completed a survey seeking views on alternative and non-punitive approaches to the possession and use of small quantities of illegal drugs.
The survey is live for one more week so anyone who has an interest in this Government Work Plan action is urged to complete the survey before it closes on 11 March 2022. The survey can be found here.
As part of the justice-related actions prioritised in the Government Work Plan designed to foster a safe, just and tolerant society, the Committee for Home Affairs and the Committee for Health & Social Care are exploring pathways to improve the health, wellbeing and safety of people who use drugs, their families and friends, and the wider community.
The survey results, along with engagement with professional stakeholders, will help inform both Committees before they make recommendations via a policy letter for consideration by the States Assembly.
The survey seeks to gather Islanders' views on current penalties for possession and use of small quantities of drugs, harms associated with approaches focused on punishment, and potential alternative and non-punitive options.
These potential approaches, which are not mutually exclusive, include:
- Diversion - steering substance users toward health-oriented assessments and, if needed, subsequent support programmes, either instead of, or alongside, criminal justice processes.
- Deferral - a type of diversion that provides substance users with an opportunity to avoid criminal justice processes if they agree to a health-oriented assessment, and in some cases a subsequently recommended support programme.
- Depenalisation - a reduction in criminal penalties for cases in which someone is found to possess or use small amounts of illegal drugs but is not associated with more serious offences such as supplying drugs, importing drugs or other crimes.
Decriminalisation and/or legalisation of illegal drugs are not under consideration as part of this project.
