GOVERNMENTS OF CANADA AND BRITISH COLUMBIA
LAUNCH DRUG TREATMENT COURT OF VANCOUVER

VANCOUVER, December 4, 2001 - Canada's newest Drug Treatment Court is set to open December 4th in Vancouver, British Columbia. The announcement was made today by the Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada, Anne McLellan, and the Solicitor General of Canada, Lawrence MacAulay, in collaboration with the Attorney General of British Columbia, Geoff Plant, and the Solicitor General of British Columbia, Rich Coleman.

"The Government of Canada is pleased to be working with the Government of British Columbia, and the City of Vancouver, in this important undertaking," said Minister McLellan. "This project is an example of how the criminal justice system--the police, the judiciary, and the Bar--and the broader community can come together to deal with the underlying causes of criminal behaviour, and help break the cycle of drug addiction, crime and victimization."

The Drug Treatment Court of Vancouver (DTCV) is a pilot project that aims to reduce the number of crimes committed to support a drug dependence by reducing drug addiction through treatment services. In addition, the project will connect people receiving treatment with community services that are best able to deal with their related social, health, and economic needs.

"Drug addiction and related crimes are serious problems that affect everyone but it's been clear for some time that we needed to find new ways to address these issues," said Minister Plant. "The drug treatment court is an innovative and effective way to protect the public and reduce the burden on the justice system caused by repeat drug offenders."

"The objective is to enhance public safety. People who commit crimes as a result of their addiction will be getting much needed treatment," said Minister Coleman.

By 1998, there were an estimated 11,700 injection drug users in Greater Vancouver, with a large percentage living on the streets or in temporary housing in a few square blocks in the Downtown Eastside. According to a 2000 report by the City of Vancouver, the total number of overdose deaths in British Columbia had risen from 39 in 1988, to 331 in 1993. Since then, an average of 147 illicit overdose deaths have occurred per year in the city of Vancouver alone.

Drug abuse and addiction are chronic problems often associated with persistent criminal behaviour, violence, family discord and health problems. Without proper addiction treatment, the rate of criminal recidivism is typically very high.

"This project is testament to the capacity of a community to work together in the development of an innovative solution to crime and victimization," said Minister MacAulay. "All the partners, and every level of government, recognize the importance of coordinating efforts to reduce the social, health and economic costs of substance abuse."

The members of the DTCV team, consisting of a judge, crown prosecutor, defence counsel, case managers, and treatment providers, will monitor each participant's progress carefully. A comprehensive team of therapists and case managers will provide treatment services for court participants, as well as referrals to other services. By providing a treatment option for those caught up in the criminal justice system, it will help those individuals end their addiction, as well as reduce the burden and long-term cost of processing high numbers of drug-related cases and repeat offenders.

"The establishment of a drug court in Vancouver is welcome news," said Vancouver Mayor Philip Owen. "This is an important step forward for the city's drug policy, A Framework for Action, which includes a drug court as an urgent action along with prevention, treatment and harm reduction. Drug courts are an effective tool that recognize the need to treat drug addiction in order to reduce property and other crimes. The federal, provincial and city governments have worked hard to make this drug court happen and we look forward to co-operating on further actions to improve Vancouver's drug problems."

The Government of Canada's funding is being provided through the National Strategy on Community Safety and Crime Prevention's Investment Fund, administered jointly by the Department of Justice and the Solicitor General of Canada. The National Strategy is providing $1.7 million over four years to support the project. Through the course of the project, the National Strategy will conduct rigorous process and outcome evaluations through a third party.

British Columbia is providing $1.7 million for treatment, as well as funding court operations, case managers and legal aid.

The Drug Treatment Court of Vancouver pilot project is the second of its kind in Canada. The first Drug Treatment Court was established in Toronto in 1998 as a pilot project of the National Strategy, along with the Government of Ontario, the Ontario provincial court and the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health. It is also being funded under the Crime Prevention Investment Fund.

The launch follows an announcement early this year that the Governments of Canada, British Columbia, and the City of Vancouver, would be working in partnership to develop the new Drug Treatment Court.

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Ref.:

Farah Mohamed
Minister McLellan's Office
(613) 992-4261

Mark Stokes
National Crime Prevention Centre
(613) 954-1721

Dan Brien
Minister MacAulay's Office
(613) 991-2924

Cindy Rose
BC Attorney General and Solicitor General Communications
(250) 356-9596