Welcome to the second newsletter of
the Criminal Justice Support Network
It has been a very exciting
few months for the CJSN. We have completed the first
training sessions in Sydney and the Illawarra and
ppointed a new regional coordinator in the Hunter
(welcome Kylie!).
We have commenced the first
supports to people with intellectual disability in
Sydney, and expanded the existing service in the
Illawarra. We have also been developing promotional
materials for services and for people with intellectual
disability including some of the photos reproduced here
in this newsletter.
We continue to work closely with
the police and courts, particularly in Surry Hills and
Wollongong (including Shoalhaven) in implementing and
promoting the service.
The CJSN has developed a brand new
training package for volunteer support workers, which has
specific information about the processes in police
stations and courts, as well as the role of the support
person within these processes.
As well as training the first
groups of volunteers and attending meetings with other
service providers, the CJSN has been involved in training
other services about the issues faced by people with
intellectual disability in the criminal justice
system.
As noted in the last newsletter,
the support that the CJSN is providing has a strong
rights focus. It is the aim of the project to make sure
that people with intellectual disability have access to
the same rights as all other people in criminal justice
system processes.
This can mean assisting people to
understand their specific legal rights as well as
enabling people to understand what their choices might be
in what are sometimes complicated judicial
processes.
 A
CJSN Support
The CJSN recently provided
court support to a young man, Pete (not his real name),
who had been the victim of harassment and intimidation
from a neighbour in his block of flats.
After ongoing harassment, he was
also assaulted by this neighbour, and was so terrified
that he left his home and moved into a boarding
house.
It was almost eleven months later
when his case was to be heard by the court, and he was
required to attend court as a witness.
A disability service providing
recreation and social support to people in boarding
houses knew that this date was coming up and referred
Pete’s case to the CJSN.
 A
support worker from the CJSN was able to meet with Pete
before his court date and talk to him about what was
likely to happen at court. Pete was terrified of going
into the court building, and very, very scared of seeing
the offender.
The support worker was able to
organise a safe room for Pete at the nearby police
station, was able to organise a visit to the court house
prior to the court date, and was also able to assist Pete
talk to the police prosecutor about his fears.
The support worker was also able to
sit with Pete for over three hours while he waited for
his case to be heard. Pete said if it weren’t for
the support worker he wouldn’t have stayed around
and got the chance for his story to be heard.
 Farewell
Mindy…
Mindy Sotiri the Sydney
Regional Coordinator has left IDRS, though she will still
work in a voluntary capacity for the Criminal Justice
Support Network. We will inform you of any news about the
appointment of a new Sydney Coordinator.
How about becoming a
volunteer?
The CJSN is looking for
people who are nterested in becoming volunteer support
workers for the network.
We are particularly interested in
people who have some experience working with people with
disabilities. Volunteers need to be over 18 years of age,
have good communication skills, be able to work well with
police and court staff and have a commitment to social
justice and improving the rights of people with
intellectual disability.
A one day orientation program is
offered to all people who would like to learn more about
the project. Detailed training about police and court
processes and the role of the support worker is then
offered to those people who decide to become
volunteers.
The first groups of people to
complete the training in Sydney and the Illawarra have a
range of different backgrounds and experience. We are
very lucky to be starting this project with such a
fantastically skilled and committed group of
people.
If you are interested in becoming a
volunteer support worker, or hearing more about the
Criminal Justice Support Network, we would love to hear
from you.
Please fill in the form on this
page, and fax or mail it to IDRS. Alternatively, give us
a call to find out when the next orientation training is
on.
IDRS
CJSN Volunteer
Fax to: 02 9318
2887
Mail to: 2C 199 Regent St, Redfern, NSW
2016
I am interested
in
- Keeping in
touch with the CJSN
- Finding out
about coming a CJSN Volunteer
- I am a
Solicitor and I am interested in assisting the
CJSN
Name:
.........................................................
Address:
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Post Code ................
Phone: (w)
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(mob)
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email:
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Contact CJSN
For further information email
cjsn@idrs.org.au
or phone (02) 9318 0144 for further information.
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