A new report is to be published today calling for major reform of the way criminals are dealt with in the courts.
The National Crime Council, chaired by Padraic White, will present the findings of their study to Tanaiste and Justice Minister Michael McDowell in Dublin.
The report 'Problem Solving Justice - the Case for Community Courts in Ireland' includes 20 recommendations after experts assessed the ways offenders are dealt with in the United Kingdom and the United States.
A form of Community Courts already exists there designed to help defendants solve the problems underlying their criminal behaviour.
They hold defendants to account for offences they are charged with and at the same time take a pro-active approach to preventing crime. The Justice Minister will have the final say on the whether the new courts are brought in.
The report examines the positive impact which the principles and practices of Community Courts could have if they were introduced to the Criminal Justice system here.