Pubdate: Fri, 02 Jun 2006
Source: Richmond News (CN BC)
Copyright: 2006, Lower Mainland Publishing Group Inc.
Contact:  http://www.richmond-news.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1244
Author: Eve Edmonds
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/find?159 (Drug Courts)
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/rehab.htm (Treatment)

DRUG COURT PROPOSED

Drug court: It's an idea whose time has come - and not just for the 
big cities but Richmond as well, according to Coun. Linda Barnes.

"It's certainly something I would support," said Barnes, who until 
recently was city council's liaison person to the Substance Abuse 
Task Force, which is looking into the concept.

"We're interested in seeing if this can work in Richmond," said Vince 
Battistelli, manager of Richmond Addiction Services and chair of the 
task force.

"What we know is that there are people who are repeat offenders who 
have addiction issues. We'd like to see if we can offer the courts 
another option other than just sending them to jail," Battistelli added.

The drug treatment court is a way to address what many believe is a 
revolving door justice system in regards to drug addicts.

"Certainly the system we have I don't think is particularly 
affective, and we should be open to new ways of doing things," said 
Robert Parsonage, a Richmond lawyer who deals with numerous drug 
addicted offenders.

"Richmond has its fair share of drug addicts who regularly appear in 
front of the court. Once in a while, we're all pleasantly surprised 
when one of them breaks their addiction and starts getting their life 
back on track, but certainly that's the exception."

The drug treatment court aims to deal with chronic offenders who 
commit non-violent property crimes to support their addictions.

Such offenders would be required to plead guilty and enter a drug 
rehabilitation program.

"It's about adopting a health model as opposed to a criminal model," 
said Barnes.

The hope is that by dealing with the root cause of an individual's 
criminal behaviour, that person can escape the revolving door of the 
legal system.

Moreover, the legal system can escape the crushing costs of 
capturing, trying and jailing the same person, repeatedly.

"We sometimes see the same guy 20, 30, 40 times over a few months," 
said Cpl. Galib Bhayani with the Richmond RCMP.

"If we want to get the crime stats down we have to address the root 
causes," said Bhayani, who heads the detachment's crime reduction unit.

Police also have to target repeat offenders. In the case of car 
thefts, police have reported that approximately four per cent of the 
criminals commit 80 per cent of the crimes.

"They call them The Four Per Centers," said Bhayani, also a member of 
the Substance Abuse Task Force. "I definitely think we should at 
least research the drug court option," he added.

The first drug court was established in Florida in the late 1980s. 
The concept has since spread throughout the States and Canada.

Just last month, the Vancouver drug treatment court, which began as a 
pilot project three years ago, was renewed for another three years.

Since January another four drug courts have been established across 
Canada and Surrey's mayor is lobbying to have her city next on the list.

But the drug court system can only work if there is a continuum of 
services that the offender can access as part of his or her sentence.

"We're not quite there yet," said Barnes.

While Richmond has RAS, there are also gaps in the system. Richmond 
does not have a detox centre or a residential rehabilitation 
facilities, for example.

"The beauty of the drug court is that there are as many models as 
there are communities," said Christa Mullaly, an addictions 
councillor with RAS who has been instrumental in gathering the data 
about drug courts and the possibility of establishing one in Richmond.

"It's possible to develop a program that is very suited to Richmond."

Vancouver developed a comprehensive program from the ground up, 
Mullaly said. Richmond, instead, may link programs already 
established, she added.

"It may be about looking at what is already out there and using those 
resources and filling in the gaps where it's needed."

Richmond may not need it's own residential facility, for example, as 
long as it has access to such a place in a nearby jurisdiction.

But whether the service is in Richmond or not, the Richmond court has 
to be given a range of options in order to met out an appropriate 
sentence for the offender.

Others question whether Richmond has a serious enough drug problem to 
warrant the time and effort in creating a drug court.

"You don't see addicts shooting up in back alleys or drug deals going 
down on street corners," Barnes said. But the problem is still very 
real, she argues.

"The drug problem in Richmond looks much different than it does in 
Surrey or Vancouver. Because our addicts are less visible, it's 
harder to get public acceptance that there is a problem."

Nevertheless the problem exists, she added, pointing to the rash of 
metal thefts in recent months which some believe is largely fuelled 
by drug addiction.

Others critics of the drug court system question the concept of 
mandatory treatment. Addiction counsellors generally agree that 
therapy is most successful if the client is willing and motivated - 
not coerced.

Barnes noted that no accused person is forced to go through drug court.

"That is just an option. They can go through the conventional court 
system if they want."

Finally, some have argued that drug courts simply don't work, and 
have done nothing to bring down the rate of recidivism.

Battistelli agrees that addiction may still only be one part of the 
problem. Mental illness, poverty and homelessness are also factors in 
many crimes.

A recent report put out by the B.C. Justice Review Task Force, called 
not just for a drug court but a "community court" which could offer 
"wrap around" services.

Building that web of support tends to be supported by Richmond city 
councillors in theory.

However in a city with minimal affordable housing, no residential 
drug treatment facility and no shelter for homeless women or 
children, it's unclear whether that theory will translate into reality.

Nevertheless, a drug court could be a step towards addressing the 
underlying causes of crime in Richmond, said Barnes.
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MAP posted-by: Beth Wehrman