Drug Treatment Courts Receive
Additional Funding
For immediate release, May 29, 2003: The Toronto Drug Treatment Court and
the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH) join together in applauding the
announcement made today by the Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada
Martin Cauchon and the Minister of Health Anne McLellan, that the Government of Canada
will provide additional funding for Canadian Drug Treatment Courts.
"The funding announced today demonstrates the Federal Government's commitment
to an innovative response to drug related crime and substance use problems,"
said Brian Parris, Co-Chair of the Toronto Drug Treatment Court's Community Advisory
Committee.
The Toronto Drug Treatment Court (TDTC) is a voluntary program that provides court-supervised
treatment for people addicted to cocaine or heroin, who have been charged with drug
offenses involving those substances. Clients who complete the program receive a non-custodial
sentence instead of the incarceration that they would normally be facing. The majority
of clients have a long history of involvement with drugs and the criminal justice
system.
The TDTC is in its fifth year of operation and the preliminary results of the
ongoing evaluation indicate that the program is a promising form of intervention
for a population with multiple, highly complex needs. There has been a noticeable
decrease in drug use and re-offending amongst participants. The program consists
of a combination of regular court appearances, judicially supervised treatment and
an extensive community based support network.
"Toronto Drug Treatment Court offers some of the most difficult-to-reach
members of our society an opportunity to turn their lives around. Drug Treatment
Courts must be seriously considered as part of a comprehensive National Drug Strategy,"
said Dr. Paul Garfinkel, CAMH President and C.E.O.
The TDTC was the first Drug Treatment Court outside of the United States and has
developed a model of service delivery that has been replicated by numerous other
countries including Australia, Bermuda, Brazil, Ireland, Jamaica, New Zealand and
Scotland. Drug Treatment Courts are an important tool in maintaining public safety
while addressing the treatment and social needs of offenders.
CAMH is a Pan American Health Organization and World Health Organization Collaborating
Centre and a teaching hospital fully affiliated with the University of Toronto.
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For further information, please contact:
The Honourable Justice Paul Bentley, Presiding Judge - TDTC 416-327-5907
Kofi Barnes, Deputy Director -- Strategic Initiatives -- Justice Canada 416-973-1314
Richard Coleman, Coordinator -- Toronto Drug Treatment Court 416-535-8501 x 6331
Anne Ptasznik, CAMH Media Relations Coordinator, 416-595-6015
www.torontodrugtreatmentcourt.ca
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PDF of the May 29, 2003 release
1-800-463-6273
