Pubdate: Wed, 01 Mar 2006 Source: Ottawa Citizen (CN ON) Copyright: 2006 The Ottawa Citizen Contact: http://www.canada.com/ottawa/ottawacitizen/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/326 Author: Paula McCooey Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/find?159 (Drug Courts) Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/rehab.htm (Treatment) DRUG COURT SENDS FIRST OFFENDER FOR TREATMENT People Who Commit Crimes To Feed Addictions Can Get Help, Not Jail Ottawa's new drug treatment court officially opened yesterday at the Elgin Street courthouse, offering a different approach to dealing with chronic drug offenders who commit non-violent crimes to feed their addictions. People who qualify will not serve time in jail but instead will be closely monitored and receive treatment for their addiction. Yesterday, four people were to be considered for the treatment in lieu of jail time. However, only one person applied and was accepted into the program yesterday. Two others chose jail time over the program and another offender has not yet applied. Ontario Court Justice Peter Wright, an Ottawa drug-treatment court committee member, who will be presiding over these cases, thanked all the supporters present at yesterday's launch -- including chief Crown attorney Hilary McCormack and counsellors from Rideauwood Addiction and Family Services treatment centre. "It is good to see you all here," said Judge Wright, after laying out the conditions of the program to one of the first applicants, Roger Picard, 46, who was convicted yesterday on two break-and-enter charges. According to Crown prosecutor Riad Tallim, Mr. Picard was the perfect candidate because he has no history of violence. "He wants the help and he is prepared to make the lifestyle changes," said Mr. Tallim. Mr. Tallim said without the drug treatment court, he would have suggested a six-month jail sentence, on top of the one-and-a-half-month pre-trial custody jail time he had already served. However, when defence lawyer Graham Murray and Mr. Tallim and Judge Wright met with Rideauwood counsellors who evaluated Mr. Picard, they all agreed he is a suitable candidate and the 12-month rehabilitation program would better serve his needs. Judge Wright released Mr. Picard based on the condition he attend all scheduled appointments with counsellors at Rideauwood, attend all subsequent court appearances, keep the peace, reside at a residence accepted by the court, abstain from alcohol and drugs, stay home between 9 p.m. and 6 a.m. unless accompanied by his brother and sister-in-law, provide urine samples on demand, and be honest with the court and staff. "Sir, you are the first participant in the drug treatment court and everyone here hopes you do well, and as the first applicant, hopes you will be the first to graduate," Judge Wright told Mr. Picard before his release. "We are here to stick it out with you and it is important that you are honest with us." Mr. Tallim said the program "recognizes there could be a relapse" in these cases. And if Mr. Picard breaches his conditions, he will be brought back into custody. "I think this is an excellent program, I think this is an opportunity to help these people rehabilitate themselves, and it reduces overall costs of investigations, prosecution and jail time." The program's funding was announced in June by the federal government. Under the program, $13.3 million is to be spent over four years to help establish four new drug-treatment courts in Ottawa, Edmonton, Regina and Winnipeg. The program is a continuation of the drug-treatment strategy already in place in Toronto and Vancouver. It is aimed at reducing the number of drug addicts who regularly rotate through the court system. At the time, then-justice Minister Irwin Cotler touted the program as a way to reduce crime by tackling its root causes. "When non-violent criminal conduct is motivated by an addiction to drugs, treatment rather than incarceration can help addicts break their cycle of dependency and become more productive members of their community," he said. - --- MAP posted-by: Beth Wehrman