LAW REFORM COMMISSION HANDS OVER REPORT TO GOV’T
SILRC hands over its report to the Ministry of Justice today. Photo: SIBC
The Law Reform Commission has today handed over its report on Mental Impairment, Criminal Responsibility and Fitness to Plead to the Minister for Justice and Legal Affairs.
LRC Commissioner Gabriel Suri says the report identified four key issues associated with sections in the Penal Code and the Criminal Code Procedure that apply to people with mental impairment who come into contact with the criminal justice system.
“One, we identify issues with the length and indefinite detention of mentally impaired persons.We identified issues relating to lack of criteria to determine fitness of mentally impaired persons to make their plea. We identify issues relating to lack of qualified personal and adequate mental health facilities in the country, and we identified issues relating to lack of review of decisions to retain mentally impaired persons.”
The Mental Impairment, Criminal Responsibility and Fitness to Plead report contains 25 recommendations.
Meanwhile, Minister of Justice and Legal Affairs, Commins Mewa says, it is vitally important to review the country’s Laws on mentally impaired people.
Minister Mewa made the statement today during the handing over of the law reform report on Mental Impairment, Criminal Responsibility and Fitness to Plead.
He said laws on mentally impaired persons must be reviewed.
“It is therefore that the revised of the current penal code ad he criminal procedure code on impairments takes into consideration our take into consideration our constitution, international obligations of Solomon Islands as international conventions and how other countries develop their laws.This is vitally necessary so that Solomon Islands is kept abreast with international communities on laws regarding people with mental impairment who come into contact with the criminal justice system.”