Pubdate: Mon, 16 Oct 2006
Source: Calgary Herald (CN AB)
Copyright: 2006 Calgary Herald
Contact:  http://www.canada.com/calgary/calgaryherald/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/66
Author: Jason van Rassel
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/find?159 (Drug Courts)

COUNCIL LOOKS AT FUNDING DRUG COURT

McIver Worries City Stuck Doing Province's Job

City council will vote today on a motion intended to launch a 
proposed drug treatment court.

Ald. Druh Farrell, who drafted the motion, is asking city council to 
allocate $100,000 in seed money to the court for each of the next two years.

"We need this program. It's been proven to work -- we're not breaking 
new ground," Farrell said.

Others on city council, however, are skeptical the municipal 
commitment will last only two years and are worried the city will 
remain on the hook far longer.

"A drug court is a great idea, but I'm concerned that council is 
taking on yet another provincial responsibility," Ward 12 Ald. Ric McIver said.

Although a provincial task force on crystal meth recently recommended 
establishing drug courts provincewide, it set no timeline for the initiative.

Generally, drug courts are used to rehabilitate non-violent offenders 
who commit crimes to feed their addiction.

Instead of going to jail, eligible offenders participate in 
court-monitored treatment. Ending a person's addiction is supposed to 
put an end to the crimes they commit to pay for drugs.

The concept has been successful in many U.S. jurisdictions since the 
first drug court was established in the mid-1990s.

In Spokane County, Wash., only about 10 per cent of defendants who 
successfully complete treatment go on to reoffend.

The idea is still relatively new in Canada, though Edmonton, Regina, 
Winnipeg, Ottawa, Toronto and Vancouver have drug courts.

Officials in Edmonton launched that city's Drug Treatment and 
Community Restoration Court last December, with four years of funding 
from the federal and provincial governments.

Although some U.S. drug courts will withdraw a defendant's criminal 
charges if he completes treatment, Edmonton's court requires an 
automatic guilty plea. Successful offenders receive a suspended 
sentence instead of jail.

Calgary's court will be a partnership involving social agencies such 
as the Salvation Army to offer treatment and counselling to defendants.

Farrell's $100,000 proposal would likely go toward drug testing and 
hiring a court-appointed social worker.

Farrell said the motion addresses any concerns the city would end up 
assuming the cost over time by limiting its commitment to two years 
and making it contingent on provincial funding after that.

"It's for a limited time, it's to get things started, and it has a 
sunset clause," she said.

A sunset clause offers "no comfort," countered McIver, because the 
city has repeatedly extended funding to programs that were supposed 
to be taken over by the province.

"History shows council will keep funding it," McIver said.
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MAP posted-by: Beth Wehrman