COUNCIL POSTPONES DRUG COURT DECISION

A city council vote that could have launched a new drug treatment
court in Calgary has been postponed, and instead the issue will be
debated next month at a committee meeting.

Ald. Druh Farrell, who drafted the motion, had asked for $100,000 in
seed money for the court for each of the next two years.

The program, known in some U.S. jurisdictions as "hugs for thugs,"
would offer eligible offenders the chance to participate in
court-monitored treatment.

Ending a person's addiction is supposed to put an end to the crimes
he commits to pay for drugs.

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

"This is not saying every addict qualifies for drug court," Farrell
said Tuesday. "If we continue to wait for other orders of government
to act . . . we may be waiting a long time."

At least one alderman said the move to fund a drug court could cost
Calgarians for years to come.

"This is yet another one of those areas that is not within the city's
mandate," said Ald. Gord Lowe, adding the province should be on the
hook for startup cash.

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

Edmonton, Regina, Winnipeg, Ottawa, Toronto and Vancouver have drug
courts. Calgary's court would be a partnership involving social
agencies such as the Salvation Army and would offer treatment and
counselling to defendants.

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

The issues will be addressed at a meeting of the community and
protective services committee on Nov.1.