Pubdate: Wed, 03 Dec 2003 Source: Surrey Now (CN BC) Copyright: 2003 Lower Mainland Publishing Group Inc., A Canwest Company Contact: http://www.thenownewspaper.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1462 Author: Marisa Babic Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/find?159 (Drug Courts) SURREY EYES ALTERNATE CURE FOR ADDICTS Plagued with problems associated with drugs, Surrey is looking at the idea of setting up a special drug treatment court to deal with some of the city's addicts. The proposal is among several recommendations made in a draft report by the Drug-Crime Task Force struck two years ago by Mayor Doug McCallum. Task force chairwoman Coun. Dianne Watts said yesterday she supports the establishment of a drug treatment court in the city, modelled on a similar court in Vancouver. "I think we have seen, so far, preliminary data suggesting it is a resounding success," Watts said. Watts stressed the Drug-Crime Task Force report is only a draft and needs council approval. She expects the report will come to council before the Christmas break. The Drug Treatment Court of Vancouver, a partnership between three levels of government, opened in December 2001 with funding from the federal government. Martha Devlin, deputy director of prosecutions for the federal department of justice and the Drug Treatment Court of Vancouver, says the court has been successful in dealing with drug addicts willing to participate in the program. "It has made a difference. It's not the solution to the drug problem in Vancouver but it's one small part to address the problem," Devlin said. Devlin said the program is geared toward non-violent drug addicts charged with street-level drug offences. To participate in the program, individuals must provide consent and plead guilty to the offence. The program lasts about a year with addicts attending treatment sessions five days a week. Their progress is monitored by the court and successful candidates - those who have found stable homes, jobs or are taking job training - graduate from the program. Their charges are either stayed or they get a non-custodial sentence. Devlin says the project has had about 22 graduates to date, one of whom claimed the program "saved my life." Vancouver's program deals only with adult offenders but Watts says she'd like to see a Surrey program include youth - something she's discussed with Solicitor-General Rich Coleman. Meanwhile, Devlin said the federal government is committed to the expansion of drug treatment courts in other urban centres. "They've proven to be successful and looked upon as a viable option to dealing with some of the problems," she said. - --- MAP posted-by: Larry Seguin