UK eyes up implementing Texas-style courts

[barryqwalsh]

Michael Gove, right, and George Osborne, centre, toured Brixton Prison



Lord Chancellor Michael Gove visited Texas last year to examine how a Republican programme has cut prison numbers by sending criminals on intensive courses to deal with drug abuse, alcohol addiction, and mental-health problems rather than sending them to jail.

Although Texas is not known for a progressive attitude to crime – the state retains the death penalty – its “Star” courts monitor offenders who can be treated, and will only send them to prison if they do not attend scheduled meetings or hit targets set by judges.


Michael Gove's team poised to give us justice, Texas-style

 

[Dogtanian]

I don't know much about it, but I seem to recall the system being abused to force drug users (not even addicts, just people caught using drugs) to attend religion-based groups where they are lectured on "immorality" and "sin" with incentives being given to those who accept indoctrination, and penalties being imposed on those who resist.