Criminal justice case-study: Plymouth Community Advice and Support Service

Plymouth was selected as one of the trial locations for a Community Court pilot. It is recognised that CASS has been integral to the successful operation of Community Justice Courts in this area. The service works closely in partnership with designated Police and Probation Officers as part of the problem-solving team.

The functions of CASS are:

• making effective contact with potential service users;
• triaging support needs and providing initial advice on how to proceed;
• identifying relevant services;
• signposting/referring offenders to these services;
• acting as mentor or advocate where appropriate;
• monitoring client progress and providing follow-up support where needed;
• recruitment, training and management of volunteers;
• development of links with agencies;
• reviewing, evaluating and further developing the service in partnership with others.

Mr T was a young man appearing in Community Court on a drink related charge. He has a record for court appearances but had not presented at court for a period of approx 2 years.
The Magistrate challenged him about his alcohol misuse, as much of his previous offences had been alcohol related. He declared that, though he had previously struggled to “get help” he was now engaged with appropriate services. He also told the Bench that he was shortly to “go into the army”.
He received a Conditional Discharge.
CASS followed this young man out of court, as there was something about his response to the Bench that didn’t seem right. Once outside of the court room he was extremely agitated and upset. We challenged him regarding his alcohol support and he admitted that he’d fabricated that, because if the court had insisted on him engaging with alcohol services it might have prevented his entering the army. In the event, the fact that he’d received a Conditional Discharge instead of a fine, which he’d been expecting, was going to “mess up” his application anyway!
When asked why he hadn’t explained this to the Magistrate he replied that there were people in the back of the court and ”he didn’t want everyone knowing his business.”
We took him to our office and contacted the Army Recruitment Office (who knew that he was in court). They confirmed that he would have his application delayed by a year but that a simple fine would not complicate matters.
We contacted the legal adviser team who re-opened the case in the same court sitting. The Magistrates heard the detail and re-sentenced him to a £60 fine, or one day in custody, which he was deemed to have served.
He left the court and went straight to the Army Recruitment Office, where has was able to process the rest of his application to sign up.
This was a young man with the potential to re-offend without some structure in his life. He had been brought up in the care system, with no family support and he had made real inroads to gaining meaningful employment under his own steam.
This case study demonstrates the need for a sign-posting service away from court sittings and outside of the austerity of a court room. 

Case-study two

 Miss S is a recovering alcoholic who lives, unsatisfactorily, with an alcoholic friend. She tried to approach Midland House (housing agency) within the last few months to address her homelessness. Unfortunately, this visit did not go well! She was in drink and emotionally unstable, due to the fact that she had been evicted by her friend. The situation escalated into her being arrested when she failed to behave herself!
She told us that she really wanted to do something about things but had been banned from any further attendance at Midland House. We contacted them and they agreed to a housing interview provided she was accompanied, which we agreed to do. An appointment was made, which we attended with her. She was polite and helpful at this interview and had brought all the requested documentation.
She was delighted and relieved afterwards. We spent time explaining the processes to her and have agreed to attend further interviews, when required. Though she has had unsatisfactory living arrangements for at least a year, this is the first time she has felt supported enough to be able to address her situation.
(Up-date; this lady is currently maintaining an independent tenancy in the private sector.)