DRUG COURT IS NEEDED

It's been called "excellent" by the police chief and a Crown
prosecutor; something that produces "results" by a front-line police
officer; and "a long time coming" by a local defence attorney when it
was announced in 2005 that it would open in Ottawa.

Over the past four years these are the words that have been used to
describe Ottawa's drug court, a way for addicts to get help in a
treatment program instead of going to jail, for petty, non-violent
crimes that are often committed to fuel a drug habit. Those who enter
into the program are not given an easy ride, having to check in with
the judge and a treatment centre regularly, and submit to random drug
testing. If they can't follow the rules, they go back to court for --
likely tougher -- sentencing. But it is a way to get these people
help, and to break the cycle of addiction and crime.

The federal government is reviewing funding for the drug courts in
Ottawa, Edmonton, Regina, Toronto, Vancouver and Winnipeg. The pilot
program, across all the cities, costs the federal government about
$3.4 million a year. The funding runs out in 2010.

Here's hoping Justice Minister Rob Nicholson was sincere last
November when he said in a statement (in reference to the
government's hard stand against producers but compassion for those
with addictions): "Drug Treatment Courts are an example of how these
two approaches can work together to provide treatment to those
struggling with an addiction while ensuring community safety."

In September 2007, Ottawa Police Chief Vern White was calling for
increased funding for the drug court. One of the key challenges is
finding stable housing for those taking part.

Paul Welsh of Rideauwood Addiction and Family Services, which
administers the treatment program, said at the time: "Some are
finding it hard to stick to treatment because they have nowhere to
live ... it's attributing to relapses."

This speaks to the collaborative approach needed in sentencing and
addiction treatment, and the longstanding need for more addiction
treatment facilities in this city.

The man in charge of Edmonton's drug court was recently quoted as
saying that while it costs about $110 a day to keep someone in
custody, it costs only $41 per day to have them in the drug court program.

Here in Ottawa, Rideauwood staff member James Budd said last week
that 30% of the 150 people who have gone through the drug court
program can be deemed successes. That number might seem small to
some, but that's 45 people who otherwise would have been sentenced to
jail time, and likely released back to the same life of addiction and
crime. The drug court funding is needed.

The federal government must see that it can be tough on crime and
compassionate to those with addictions at the same time, helping them
move on to a better life.

The drug court is important not only for those who pass through it,
but for the city as a whole.