Backgrounder

Drug Treatment Courts

Drug Treatment Courts (DTCs) aim to reduce crime committed as a result of drug addictions. They offer court-monitored treatment and community service support for offenders with drug addictions.

To be considered for a DTC program, an accused must be non-violent and not involved with organized crime. For those selected for the program, the judge may suspend the imposition of a sentence to allow the addicted person to undergo treatment under very strict conditions. Those conditions include judicial supervision, substance abuse treatment, random and frequent drug testing and social services support. If the person successfully completes the program, the court can decide to impose a suspended or reduced sentence.

Participants must also appear regularly in the drug treatment court, where a judge reviews their progress and can then either impose sanctions (ranging from verbal reprimands to expulsion from the program) or provide rewards (ranging from verbal commendations to a reduction in court appearances).

The Canadian DTC model in six cities – Toronto, Ottawa, Winnipeg Edmonton, Regina, and Vancouver – is restricted to non-violent accused persons whose criminal activity is driven by an addiction to cocaine, opiates, or methamphetamine. Applicants are screened out if there are indications of drug trafficking for commercial gain, if they are charged with a violent offence, if they have a significant and/or recent history of violence, if they used a young person under 18 years of age in the commission of the offence, or if they are charged with residential break-and-enter.

DTCs also aim to reduce the burden of substance abuse on the Canadian economy. The impact of drug-related crimes on the economy has been estimated at $9 billion annually for areas including law enforcement, prosecution and incarceration.

Drug Treatment Court Funding Program

Health Canada and Justice Canada work collaboratively to support and deliver the Drug Treatment Court Funding Program. The program is funded by both departments and managed by Justice Canada.

The objectives of the DTC Funding Program are as follows:

• To promote and strengthen the use of alternatives to incarceration with a particular focus on Aboriginal people and street prostitutes;
• To build knowledge and awareness among criminal justice, health and social service practitioners, and the general public about drug treatment courts; and
• To collect information and data on the effectiveness of DTCs in order to promote best practices and the continuing refinement of approaches.

Pilot Housing Program

Funding for the Toronto Drug Treatment Court pilot housing program has been provided through Human Resources and Social Development Canada’s (HRSDC) Homelessness Partnering Strategy’s (HPS) Federal Horizontal Pilot Projects program. The project was undertaken under the HPS mandate to enhance collaboration with other federal programs and departments whose mandates relate to homelessness. The pilot program will provide housing facilities and supportive services for up to eight DTC participants.

Funding for the Toronto DTC pilot housing program will span two fiscal years (2007-08 and 2008-09). This pilot will help determine if providing supportive housing facilities and services increases the success rates of DTC participants.

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Department of Justice Canada
February 2008