Alternatives to Sentencing - Does the Court actually believe in Mental Illness ?
While there are a number of alternatives to sentencing in a Crimina matter such a having the matter dealt with by way of s32 of the Mental Health (Foresnsic Procedures) act (NSW) 1990, and Intensive Corrections Order, and options under the MERIT program, increasingly the Local Court appears to be resistant to apply the intent of these alternatives when a diagnosis and treatmant plan is provided. As a practitioner one often contemplates whether there is a total breakdown in some members of the judiciary as to the existance of mental illness and the benefits of treatment as an alternative to incarseration. Why ?
