Six people who would have faced criminal proceedings for drug use have been processed by the new drugs court so far this year, Justice Minister Owen Bonnici said.

“These are people who would have faced criminal charges if the reform had not come into force. These are the fruits of the reform that are affecting people’s lives,” he said.

Dr Bonnici was speaking during a visit to the Dar Sant ‘Anna rehabilitation centre in Baħar ic-Cagħaq.

The centre, run by Caritas, is a halfway home for prison inmates nearing the end of their sentence for drug related offences.

In an informal chat with some of the 12 the residents living in the centre, Dr Bonnici took on board suggestions from those going through the correctional system.

Among the suggestions were amendments to the reform to include support for prison inmates who take drugs in prison.

“This is part of a process of addiction and we need help,” one inmate said.
Dr Bonnici said he would take the suggestion on board and look at including it in the legislation.

Ultimately, however, the biggest step had to be taken by prisoners, he said.
“We have tried to help you as best we can. Now, it is up to you to choose the right path,” he said.

Home Affairs Minister Carmelo Abela, who also attended the visit, said prison re-entry had decreased from 69 per cent to just less than half. More inmates, he added, were taking part in the rehabilitation programmes.

Around nine prisoners used to visit the Sant ‘Anna centre in previous years. Over the past three years this had risen to around 22 prisoners a year.