Cabinet has approved an amendment to the Criminal Procedure Code which will open up new options for the treatment and eventual release of persons imprisoned indefinitely after being deemed ‘criminally insane.’
The governor has ultimate responsibility for deciding if and when such prisoners can be freed and will retain this authority in such cases. However, alongside the amendment to the Criminal Procedure Code, will also be regulatory changes ensuring the governor has access to well-informed advisors.
The changes to the legal framework are planned to be a first step in the improvement of how mental health issues in Cayman’s criminal justice system are dealt with.
Additional resources, infrastructure and expertise are also needed to address significant gaps in Cayman’s mental health support system. These gaps are visible in the community as a whole, not just in the criminal justice system.
Visit The Cayman Compass for more information on these planned changes, as well as a look back at their reporting of ‘The strange case of Travis Webb’, which identified areas of concern, specifically in mental health support, within Cayman’s judicial system.
