The introduction of the Drug Treatment Court to Barbados’ judicial system has the potential to save the country thousands of dollars.
According to Justice Kofi Barnes, Chairman of Canadian Association of Drug Treatment Courts (CADTC) and also Chair of the International Association of Drug Treatment Courts (IADTC), research has proven that the court model which has been adopted by many countries Jamaica and Trinidad & Tobago included, research has shown that for every one dollar invested in a Drug Treatment Court, taxpayers saved ten dollars.
Barnes, a justice in the Canadian Ontario Court, was speaking earlier today at the Drug Treatment Court Training Workshop, at the Supreme Court Complex which he spearhead the training.
Barnes said that additionally, research has also shown that the courts that take their time to engage in ongoing training were five times more effective than those which did not.
 “Drug treatment courts will not solve all the world’s problems. But when you have seen a person who has been found to be down and out and when you have seen a person who has lost everything, a person who has been shun by community and if you observe them to change their lives and to become successful members of society, you cannot help but be changed. You cannot help but believe,” said Barnes.
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