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Capital & Coast DHB using health care as a prescription to help cut crime
Most discussions about addressing crime centre on increased Police numbers or tougher sentencing. But Capital & Coast District Health Board, in association with the Ministry of Social Development, alcohol and drug services and other agencies have proven the value of a different approach – improving the health and social outcomes for young people who might otherwise be heading down the path to becoming career criminals.
The programme, developed by an inter-sectoral working group at the behest of the DHB and the MSD, is called WATCH (Whanganui-a-Tara Courts and Health). It works directly with young people who have run foul of the law – with a particular focus on addressing their alcohol and drug use issues.
The service was designed with input from Judge John Walker and feedback from other judges, people with expertise in the criminal justice and health sectors and with input into the design from young people already in the criminal justice system and struggling with drug and alcohol issues. There was strong involvement and support from local Police, Courts, Probation and health providers with experience in this area. This working group recognised that many young people in this situation wanted to ‘get off the train’ but faced multiple barriers that often led to a sense of fatalism that their life was on a one way track to prison. Given this chance to input, most expressed aspirations for a drug and alcohol free future, a good job, happy family life - but had almost given up thinking that these things could happen for them.
“We ran a pilot for a year, contracting Wesley Community Action to provide the WATCH service. Wesley who specialise in strengths-based practice developed an innovative, strongly supportive but challenging approach with the participants and have received glowing reviews from all concerned,” says Justine Mecchia, Contracts & Relationship Manager – Primary Care for Capital & Coast DHB.
“An independent review of the WATCH service – commissioned by ALAC and ACC – confirmed the significant merits of this approach.”
The DHB and the MSD have now adopted WATCH as an ongoing way to help address these important health and social needs.
“It starts by identifying suitable candidates – young people who are due to appear in court and who have alcohol or drug issues. If they agree to take part and the judge agrees, we arrange for a delay in their next court appearance so they can create a care plan with the WATCH team to try to get themselves back on track.
“That means intensive and focussed interventions – seeking to address the social and health issues – especially drugs and alcohol – which are contributing to the young person’s illegal or anti-social behaviour. The WATCH team reports back to the Court on a regular basis – and presents a summary of progress when the time comes for the court to pass sentence for the original offence.
“And that’s not the end of the story, the WATCH team stay engaged with the young offender beyond sentencing, helping to bed in the gains they’ve made in terms of managing substance abuse.
“It’s a real win-win situation – for the young person and for society because it helps move people away from cycles of criminality, recidivism and drug/alcohol dependency.
“We’re going to continue funding providers to deliver this WATCH service locally, and we’re hoping we can help spread the idea to other parts of the country,” Justine Mecchia said.
The report from the independent review can be read here.