Over 300 of you have sent an email to your local MP and over 15,000 have signed our petition to the Premier and Attorney General – Thank you.

Your actions have made a real difference and we have now met with the Attorney General, Mark Speakman.

The Attorney General listened carefully to us. We told him that people with cognitive disability caught up in the criminal justice system need to know that effective programmes like the Justice Advocacy Service (JAS) will continue to be there for them. We told him we also need the Cognitive Impairment Diversion Programme (CIDP) to be reinstated and extended across the state.

We are asking the Attorney General to be a strong advocate for the rights of people with cognitive disability. When people with cognitive disability get caught up in the criminal justice system they need proven and effective help, support and diversion programmes.

JAS funding ends in June. We need the NSW Government to confirm ongoing long term funding for JAS now.

CIDP funding ended last July. Good diversion programmes are essential. The CIDP gave magistrates confidence to make diversionary orders rather than impose jail sentences and other penalties. Diversion orders were made in over 66% of cases. 25% of CIDP clients were Indigenous Australians.

The Attorney General needs to know this is an important issue.

Can you keep sharing the petition with your networks?

Can you also direct message on Facebook, phone or email the Attorney General?

These are his contact details:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/markspeakmancronulla/

Phone: 02 8574 6390

Email: cronulla@parliament.nsw.gov.au

Please remember to always be polite and respectful in all your communications.

Thank you so much for your commitment to this important campaign.

The CID Advocacy Team.

Watch Taylor Budin’s video about how JAS and CIDP changed her life.