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Toronto
Drug Treatment Court
Toronto's
Drug Treatment Court, a four-year pilot project for Canada, was started
on December 1, 1998. The daily experiences of Canadian judges is that
the largest urban areas have serious problems with drug-related criminal
activity. The Drug Treatment Court (DTC) takes an innovative approach
to addressing Canada's drug problem. Its objective is to reduce the number
of crimes that are committed to support a drug habit by reducing drug
addiction through treatment and court monitoring. It bring together the
criminal justice and drug treatment systems, and involves community agencies
in truly assisting individual clients in addressing all problematic aspects
of their lives. To ensure public safety, there is a careful screening
of applicants by the crown prosecutor, treatment personnel and the drug
treatment court judge.
Research
is clear about the connection between substance abuse and criminal behaviour.
Because the criminal justice system offers little addiction treatment
or after-care services in the community, the rate of criminal recidivism
among drug addicts is high. Drug addiction is also associated with unemployment,
homelessness, violence, family discord and mental and physical health
problems.
The
drug treatment court approach was started in the U.S., where there are
currently 600 such courts. A number of other countries have also initiated
similar courts. The Toronto Drug Treatment Court uses a similar philosophy
but adapts the court to the specific needs and circumstances of Canadians.
Targeted specifically at non-violent offenders who are addicted to crack,
heroin or cocaine, the DTC also endeavours to reach out to prostitutes,
youth and visible minorities. The DTC is an alternative for people who
have a recognizable drug addiction, who are willing to seek court-supervised
treatment for their addiction. It allows them the opportunity to turn
their lives around, and become valuable contributing members of society.
Not only does this increase public safety, but also addresses the root
of the problem -- namely a drug addiction.
Participants
complete the program when they meet their goals of establishing social
stability in terms of housing, education and/or employment, and elimination
their use of cocaine and/or opiates. This is expected to take eight to
fifteen months. At the completion of the program, the participant can
look forward to receiving a non-custodial sentence, or may have their
charges withdrawn.
Initiated
by Mr. Justice Paul Bentley of the Ontario Court of Justice, the Toronto
Drug Treatment Court is the first of its kind in Canada and has been in
operation since December 1998. This project is a joint venture involving
the Ontario Court of Justice, the Federal Department of Justice, the Centre
for Addiction and Mental Health, Toronto representatives of the criminal
justice system, the Toronto Police Service, the City of Toronto Public
Health and Healthy City Office, and various community-based service agencies.
The funding for this project is being provided through the Crime Prevention
Investment Fund of the National Strategy on Community Safety and Crime
Prevention, Federal Department of Justice.
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1-800-463-6273
