SINGAPORE, March 4 — To address particular problems underlying certain types of offending behaviours — such as alcohol and other related addictions — the State Courts can now direct these offenders to undergo a rehabilitation regime or treatment before they are sentenced, said Chief Justice Sundaresh Menon today.

Speaking at the State Courts’ annual workplan seminar, he noted that a fair proportion of petty thefts, public order offences and minor offences involving petty violence and threats often arise from alcohol or related addictions.

“Where the underlying addictions or behavioural issues are not specifically addressed, they tend to persist and result in recurring offending behaviour despite prosecution, court convictions and even imprisonment terms,” he said.

For those locked in a cycle of reoffending, he noted that another term of imprisonment may not necessarily “hold the key to breaking that sad cycle”.

Instead of passing their sentence immediately, the courts can get offenders to undergo treatment, receive counselling and take medication. Offenders can also voluntarily undergo residential or structured programmes offered by voluntary welfare organisations to resolve the underlying problem.

The courts will then monitor their compliance with these directions for a period of up to six months.

For a start, the Singapore After-Care Association will work with the State Courts on the initiative and provide case management services – such as counselling, befriending, monitoring their compliance with court directions – for offenders under the scheme.

The courts will then consider the offender’s progress at the end of the pre-sentence period before sentencing.

A possible outcome could be a conditional discharge requiring that the offender stays crime-free for another 12 months.

Where appropriate, post-sentence monitoring will also be imposed to ensure offenders remain focused on dealing with the problems behind their offending behaviour.

This will be handled by the Progress Accountability Court.

Among the various plans announced by CJ Menon today, the State Courts will also be raising the civil district courts’ monetary jurisdictional limit, which will be implemented in early 2017.

They will start by raising the ceiling for personal injury and property damage claims that can be heard by the civil district courts, although the exact figure is still being worked out.

The last time the monetary jurisdictional limit — currently at S$250,000 (RM747,158) — was raised was more than 18 years ago.

Working with the National University of Singapore’s law faculty, a Students Representatives Programme will also be introduced to have participating students help litigants-in-persons in harassment cases, community disputes and small claims cases navigate and adhere to court processes.

The State Courts will also be collaborating with an educational institution to develop an executive programme for its high-performing court and tribunal administrators.

The programme will start in the last quarter of the year. — TODAY