Pubdate: Wed, 19 Dec 2007
Source: Ottawa Citizen (CN ON)
Copyright: 2007 The Ottawa Citizen
Contact: http://www.canada.com/ottawacitizen/letters.html
Website: http://www.canada.com/ottawacitizen/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/326
Author: Jessey Bird
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/rehab.htm (Treatment)

SHELTERS ASK COURT TO BAR DEALERS

For Now, Police Will Keep Those Facing Drug Charges Off Premises

Three downtown Ottawa homeless shelters are asking the courts to 
prevent those charged with dealing drugs on their premises from 
coming within 500 metres until their charges are dealt with.

A formal letter submitted to police was signed by Shepherds of Good 
Hope, The Ottawa Mission and the Salvation Army.

Police say they will temporarily impose the condition, but also 
submit the letter as a victim impact statement for the courts to 
consider at trial.

"The request to the Crown is that when people are charged with drug 
trafficking that they not be sent back to the shelters," said Diane 
Morrison, executive director of The Ottawa Mission. Ms. Morrison said 
that those charged with drug-related offences are sometimes ordered 
to live at one of the shelters as a condition of their release.

"They've got to find a place to send them," said Ms. Morrison, adding 
that the city needs more drug treatment facilities.

Paul Soucie, executive director of the Shepherds of Good Hope, 
explained that the drug dealers prey on the vulnerable and that their 
presence makes it unsafe for his clients, employees and volunteers.

"What's happening is they are making offers to people in desperate 
situations," said Mr. Soucie.

"Imagine this," said Mr. Soucie. "You live in a shelter, so life 
isn't all that great, and you get up in the morning at 8:30 to be on 
the street all day.

"You do this for 365 days a year ... and you live in misery," he 
explained. "The next thing you know, you have someone sweeping in 
offering an opportunity to get away from your misery for a while."

The Murray Street shelter serves about 700,000 meals a year to those in need.

"We're trying to have a safe and clean environment in the midst of 
this problem that we're seeing," he said.

On Saturday, police began Project Street Sweep, a project of the 
newly formed 10-member street-crime unit to attack crimes like drug 
dealing and prostitution. Though police have made 33 arrests since 
Saturday, all but three of those arrested have been released until 
their trials begin in January.

Those who were arrested and charged with drug trafficking near the 
shelters were released by police on the condition that they not 
return, said Insp. Alain Bernard, who oversees the street crime unit.

"It is an unfortunate step, but it is a necessary step," said 
Rideau-Vanier Councillor Georges Bedard. "Our objective here is to 
send out the signal that people have to stop preying on the poor and 
those people with mental disabilities."

Human rights lawyer Lawrence Greenspon said this kind of condition 
should be judged on a case-by-case basis that considers the accused's 
background and criminal history.

"It would not be a wise policy any time a person is charged with 
trafficking on that premises that an automatic condition of their 
release be that they have to agree not to go to any of the shelters," 
said Mr. Greenspon. "Because that condition can become, in effect, a 
sentence of homelessness."

Insp. Bernard said that those arrested for drug trafficking will be 
asked to find a residence that is not one of the three shelters. If 
they have nowhere else to go and are identified as having a drug 
problem, they will be asked to enter a treatment program.

If they refuse help, they could face further incarceration, he said.

"If they choose not to get help ... we can't simply say they're going 
to be allowed to continue preying on individuals," said Insp. Bernard.

"We can't lose sight that these organizations are totally committed 
to helping the homeless," said Insp. Bernard of the three shelters. 
"Part of that is making tough decisions."
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom