On 5 March 2013, the Law Reform Committee tabled its report on the Inquiry into Access to and Interaction with the Justice System by People with an Intellectual Disability and Their Families and Carers.
During the course of the Inquiry, the Committee received 60 written submissions, and convened public hearings with 78 witnesses. The report is the culmination of evidence presented to the Committee.
The Committee made 47 recommendations in relation to key areas of the justice system, including a person’s knowledge of their rights, interactions with the police, the availability of appropriate services and supports in the community and the court process.
The Government Response to this report was tabled in Parliament on 5 September 2013
The Minister for Disability Services and Reform, Mary Wooldridge, said, “We have committed to build the capacity of our workforce and to increase the accessibility and effectiveness of support we provide to people with a cognitive impairment. The commitments will enable us to more appropriately respond to the unique needs and circumstances of people with an intellectual disability and reduce barriers to equitable access to the justice system. The commitments build on the existing significant investment we have already made in providing better, more targeted individualised support to people with a disability including those interacting with the justice system.”
Download Government response- Topics:
- Discrimination, Justice, Policy reform
- Author:
- State of victoria
- Date published:
- Thu 5th Sep, 2013