New task force reviewing support for special needs, mental health conditions within legal system

A new task force will review how the Government can better support people with mental health conditions and special needs within the criminal justice system.

This includes accused persons and victims of crime, who may have conditions such as psychosis, schizophrenia, autism and intellectual disabilities, among others.

On Jan 8, the Ministry of Law said the Inclusive Justice Taskforce will examine the entire criminal justice process, from the pre-offending stage and criminal investigations to court processes, sentencing and post-sentencing support measures.

It will also review existing measures, identify areas for improvement and propose potential reforms for the Government’s consideration.

Minister for Law Edwin Tong first agreed to the task force at the inaugural Access to Justice (A2J) Symposium in March 2025, which addressed legal challenges faced by people with invisible disabilities.

Senior Parliamentary Secretary for Social and Family Development and Law Eric Chua and veteran lawyer Peggy Yee, a vocal advocate for people with such disabilities, are co-chairing the 20-member task force.

Mr Chua said they have assembled a “strong collaborative team”, adding: “Work will be done to review current practices, identify gaps and develop recommendations to address them.”

Ms Yee noted that individuals with mental health conditions and disabilities often cannot advocate for themselves and would benefit from dedicated support in navigating the justice system.

“We look forward to working with the task force members to co-create practical solutions that support vulnerable individuals with empathy and fairness as they interact with the criminal justice system, whether they are accused persons, victims or witnesses,” said Ms Yee.

The Inclusive Justice Taskforce comprises individuals from a wide range of fields.

They include lawyers, policymakers, law enforcement officers, social service professionals, healthcare experts and caregivers.

Among its members are Deputy Principal District Judge Kessler Soh, Chief Public Defender Wong Kok Weng, and Deputy Commissioner of Police (Investigation and Intelligence) Zhang Weihan, who is also director of the Criminal Investigation Department.

Leaders from the social service sector on the task force include Minds chief executive Kelvin Koh, SPD chief executive Abhimanyau Pal, and Rainbow Centre executive director Tan Sze Wee.

Also on the team are Dr Derrick Yeo, a senior consultant at the Institute of Mental Health’s department of forensic psychiatry, and Dr Chen Shiling, the founder of Happee Hearts Movement, a non-profit that advocates quality healthcare for adults with intellectual disabilities.

Representing caregivers’ perspectives are Dr Lim Hong Huay – a paediatrician who founded non-profit CaringSG to support caregivers of special needs children – and Mr Teo Weng Kie, managing director of law firm Securus Law.

Clearer pathways needed

The announcement comes after several past initiatives to support such individuals within the legal system, such as the Appropriate Adult Scheme for Persons with Mental Disabilities.

Launched in 2015, the scheme assigns trained volunteers to assist those with intellectual disabilities, autism or mental health issues during interviews with the authorities.

In the courts, the Mandatory Treatment Order was introduced in 2011, allowing offenders with psychiatric conditions to undergo treatment in lieu of time behind bars.

Mr Koh of Minds told The Straits Times that a key issue he wants to address is developing support for people with intellectual disabilities who have minor offending behaviour, steering them away from incarceration.

“Currently, especially in cases where offending behaviour does not warrant full prosecution but still poses real challenges for families and the community, the pathways and grounds for offering rehabilitation or diversion remain unclear,” he said.

Mr Koh called for clearer, practical pathways for early access to support, be it through diversion options, tailored programmes or “much better coordination” across social services, healthcare and law enforcement.

Ms Yee said that with input from the many agencies represented on the task force, members can be creative and think outside the box about meaningful new measures.

The lawyer, who chaired the organising committee for the A2J Symposium, said she has heard from caregivers that they look forward to solutions which could ease their burdens.

“I am full of hope,” said Ms Yee. “I would like them to have this same hope that something can and will be done for them.”

Source: The Straits Times © SPH Media Limited. Permission required for reproduction.

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