"You can see things with a different eye" • Iftar dinner of the community court in Haifa

(haipo) - Aftar (meal for breaking the fast) was held on Sunday 31/3/24, at the initiative of the Courts Administration - the Haifa District Community Court, and the organization of the Probation Service team. The event was held in the presence of the incoming mayor, Yona Yahav, Judge Orit Kantor and many dignitaries from the public and private defense, from the prosecutions and from the attorney's office at Beit Hafen, which hosted the event.

"In Haifa, a diverse group of participants was created that gives expression to the common life in the city"

Deputy Mayor - Attorney Sharit Golan: "Yesterday evening I participated together with Mayor Yona Yahav in the after dinner organized by the cover team and the probation officers led by Natalie Margalit for the participants of the community court in the presence of the wonderful judge Orit Kantor and my friends from the public and private defense, from the prosecution and from the prosecutor's office. Also present was the chairman of the District Committee of the Bar Association, Shadi Saroji.

It was exciting to witness the success of this important project, which aims to rehabilitate criminals and guarantees full and holistic care for those who have chosen to rehabilitate and abandon criminality. This is an extraordinary combination of forces of all the players in the criminal procedure. In Haifa, a diverse group of participants was created that gives expression to the common life in the city. Proud of the project and hope it will grow for the benefit of our public interest and the necessary need to eradicate the rising crime."

"Give a full envelope to return to the best"

Chairman of the Bar Association in the Haifa District, Adv. Shadi Srouji: "Last night I participated in the iftar dinner of the administration of the courts - the community court in Haifa district, in the presence of the honorable judge Orit Kantor, the mayor of Haifa Mr. Yona Yahav, the designated deputy mayor attorney Sharit Golan, attorney Orit Bar Levy in charge of At the Congregational Court in the Public Defender's Office, Attorney Moshe Tabru, Director of the Arrest Department in the Public Defender's Office, Attorney Hamudi Masri, Attorney Sharon Goshen, Head of the Haifa Claims Office, and many defense attorneys.

Special thanks to the Probation Service team led by Attorney Nathalie Margalit and Court Coordinator Tali Yahav Amir, who provide a full envelope for a return to the best. It was possible to see things with a different eye. Possibility of rehabilitation and return to society in a better way with appropriate accompaniment. The community court is very important and essential to rehabilitating people and returning them better to society."

Attorney Orit Bar Levy, Head of Community Courts, Haifa Public Defender's Office: "The court was established about five years ago and its purpose is to deal with recidivist offenders, who commit criminal offenses and are expected to serve actual prison sentences. The therapeutic procedure in the court is a substitute for the actual prison sentence that was expected for defendants in "normal" criminal proceedings, it is designed to deal with the problems that lie behind the commission of the offense and to prevent the "door" phenomenon The "rotating" and repeated imprisonments. The participants in the community court are required to go through a therapeutic procedure of about two years, accompanied by all the parties involved in the proceedings - Honorable Judge Orit Kantor, the probation service, the defense attorney, the prosecution and welfare officials from the local authority.

The event was managed by the participants themselves, accompanied by the court's therapeutic envelope team, and the community attorney Lior Darumi and Dr. Hamudi Said, director of the community resources department at the municipal welfare directorate. The event was living proof of their integration back into normal community and social life. We were honored with their presence by the mayor Mr. Yona Yahav, the deputy mayor Sharit Golan and the chairman of the district committee at the Bar Association, Adv. Shadi Saroji.

The community court in Haifa

As I recall, the community court in Haifa began operating in 2019, thereby joining the community courts that were already operating across the country in Be'er Sheva, Ramla, Tel Aviv and Nazareth with great success.

The community courts have an extremely important social role, and they have long become a central tool in the effort to reduce recidivism in Israel. The community courts are dealing with the phenomenon of repeat crime. The underlying concept is that some of the criminal offenses are committed against the background of social and economic hardships. Holistic treatment of these hardships, by all the parties involved in the community court model, will help in the rehabilitation of the accused and in preventing the "revolving door" phenomenon.