SOLICITOR GENERAL BACKS DRUG COURT

Alberta's top law enforcement official said he backs establishing a
drug treatment court and 23 other wide-ranging recommendations aimed
at cutting crime and its causes in Calgary's inner city.

In addition to calling for more police officers and suggesting other
justice-related measures, the city-commissioned study makes
recommendations on housing for the homeless, cutting down the number
of bars and making improvements to streets and parks.

"The community has really built a template for policy and making
communities safer," Alberta Solicitor General Harvey Cenaiko said at a
news conference unveiling the study Wednesday.

A committee of local politicians, police and justice officials is
designing a drug court that would send addicts to treatment as an
alternative to jail.

Drug court backers say treating addicts reduces crime by eliminating
their main reason for offending: to find money to buy drugs.

The establishment of a drug court was highlighted as a top priority by
one of the authors of the Beltline study.

"We need that drug court and we need it now -- and we need the
treatment dollars to go with it," said Glenn Lyons, whose firm was
hired by the city.

The study surveyed 282 area residents, workers and visitors and found
most -- 80 per cent of residents -- felt safe in the community. But an
equal number of respondents said they were concerned about drugs and
homelessness.

City statistics project the number of homeless in the city's core will
top 3,000 this year -- an exponential increase over the 447 counted in
1992.

"I don't like using the word crisis, but this is a crisis," Lyons
said.