Review of approaches taken in Ireland and in other jurisdictions to simple possession drug offences Dr Caitlin Hughes1, Professor Alex Stevens2, Shann Hulme1 and Dr Rebecca Cassidy2 1 National Drug and Alcohol Research Centre, UNSW Australia 2 University of Kent A report for the Irish Department of Justice & Equality and the Department of Health (and the working group on this issue) September 2018 Acknowledgements This study was funded by the Irish Department of Justice and Equality and the Department of Health. The National Drug and Alcohol Research Centre, UNSW, also receives funding from the Commonwealth Department of Health. Our sincere thanks to the working group members overseeing this project including members from the Department of Justice and Equality, Department of Health, An Garda Síochána, Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions, Probation Services, Health Research Board, Health and Safety Executive and others. We would like to acknowledge the contributions of our country experts for cross-checking and identifying other relevant literature: • Bernd Werse, Germany • Maria Moreira, EMCDDA, Portugal • Rosalie Pacula, RAND, USA • Vibeke Asmussen Frank and Esben Houberg, Centre for Alcohol and Drug Research, Aarhus University, Denmark • Vendula Belackova, Czech Republic All conclusions and recommendations as well as any errors are those of the research team. Suggested citation: Hughes, C., Stevens, A., Hulme, S. & Cassidy, R. (2018). Review of approaches taken in Ireland and in other jurisdictions to simple possession drug offences. A report for the Irish Department of Justice and Equality and the Department of Health. UNSW Australia and University of Kent. ii Table of Contents List of tables ............................................................................................................................................ v List of figures ........................................................................................................................................... v Abbreviations ......................................................................................................................................... vi Executive summary ................................................................................................................................. 1 Chapter one: Introduction........................................................................................................................ 5 Chapter two: Irish context, existing alternatives and implications for new alternatives .......................... 6 Legal context ....................................................................................................................................... 6 Current law on simple possession of drugs ........................................................................................ 6 Current practice in law enforcement ................................................................................................... 7 Consequences of enforcement of law on simple possession ........................................................... 11 Issues related to simple possession offences ................................................................................... 12 Alternatives already available in Ireland ........................................................................................... 15 Implications for consideration of alternatives for simple possession offences ................................. 17 Chapter three: Methods for rapid realist review .................................................................................... 19 The RRR approach ........................................................................................................................... 19 Choice of countries in scope ............................................................................................................. 20 Detailed country search .................................................................................................................... 21 Document selection ........................................................................................................................... 22 Data extraction .................................................................................................................................. 22 Search results ................................................................................................................................... 23 Data analysis ..................................................................................................................................... 25 Chapter four: Country analysis of approaches to simple possession drug offences ............................ 26 England and Wales ........................................................................................................................... 27 Context .......................................................................................................................................... 27 Alternative mechanisms for dealing with simple possession offences ......................................... 27 Outcomes ...................................................................................................................................... 28 Czech Republic ................................................................................................................................. 31 Context .......................................................................................................................................... 31 Alternative mechanisms for dealing with simple possession offences ......................................... 31 Outcomes ...................................................................................................................................... 32 Denmark ............................................................................................................................................ 34 Context .......................................................................................................................................... 34 Alternative mechanisms for dealing with simple possession offences ......................................... 34 Outcomes ...................................................................................................................................... 34 Netherlands ....................................................................................................................................... 36 Context .......................................................................................................................................... 36 Alternative mechanisms for dealing with simple possession offences ......................................... 36 Outcomes ...................................................................................................................................... 37 iii Germany............................................................................................................................................ 38 Context .......................................................................................................................................... 38 Alternative mechanisms for dealing with simple possession offences ......................................... 38 Outcomes ...................................................................................................................................... 39 Portugal ............................................................................................................................................. 40 Context .......................................................................................................................................... 40 Alternative mechanisms for dealing with simple possession offences ......................................... 40 Outcomes ...................................................................................................................................... 41 Jamaica ............................................................................................................................................. 43 Context .......................................................................................................................................... 43 Alternative mechanisms for dealing with simple possession offences ......................................... 43 Outcomes ...................................................................................................................................... 43 Australia ............................................................................................................................................ 45 Context .......................................................................................................................................... 45 Alternative mechanisms for dealing with simple possession offences ......................................... 45 Outcomes ...................................................................................................................................... 47 USA ................................................................................................................................................... 50 Context .......................................................................................................................................... 50 Alternative