CAUTIOUS OPTIMISM FOR COMMUNITY COURT

Vancouver's Downtown Community Court has been operating for one year
now, and it has been both a challenging and rewarding time.

The community court, as many readers will recall, was set up to test
new ways of dealing with crime and offenders. There are more than a
dozen agencies -- justice, health and social services -- located
together in the courthouse.

From my perspective, the biggest challenge has been -- for those of
us who are used to working in a very traditional court system -- to
embrace the input of social and health workers, not just as
collateral services, but very much as participants in a new, broader
vision of a justice system that works collaboratively with other
sectors. This includes linking in with the many agencies in the
community that provide many good services in downtown Vancouver.

We are trying to address criminal behaviour in a different manner.
From the first point of contact between offenders and the community
court, the triage team is able to learn much about their
circumstances and help Crown and defence lawyers work out a plan to
get many of them out of the criminal-justice system.

Recognizing that most people who break the law seldom become repeat
offenders, the use of "alternative measures" at community court has
been very successful --that is, if at an early stage an offender
acknowledges responsibility and agrees to pay back to the victim and community.

Alternative measures usually include some community-service work and
attending educational sessions at the community court. The community
is supporting the court by helping us identify meaningful
community-service placements, for things such as cleaning up
boulevards, working in soup kitchens and removing graffiti.

Offenders who complete their alternative-measures agreements seldom
come back before the court with new charges. This is very rewarding
for all of us who work to get (and keep) people from becoming a
regular part of the criminal-justice system.

At the other end of the scale are the repeat or chronic offenders.
These people often have lengthy criminal records. They have drug
addictions as well as mental-health issues and related social and
housing problems.

Leading them to a life away from a cycle of theft-drugs-court-jail is
a significant challenge. Some want help to change their lives, others
do not. Often, time in jail is necessary both to dry them out from
drugs and also to protect the community. But they will all return to
the community at some point.

The challenge of dealing with these offenders is the purpose of the
community court's case-management teams. These teams not only provide
direct service but also co-ordinate services with existing agencies,
trying to get the offender connected to the optimum service to
increase the likelihood that crime will be reduced.

Although one year is too early to reach any conclusions, these teams
have had success in changing the lives of many whose offending has
been chronic. Some are off drugs and are not stealing. Some have
employment and the sense of self-worth that comes with being a
contributing member of their community.

As the Downtown Community Court heads into its second year, I am
optimistic that we are already making a very real difference to the
lives of those who live and work in downtown Vancouver.

At the opening of the court, I said that a measure of success will
not just be statistics of crime-reduction and of persons receiving assistance.

To me and other Vancouverites who love this city, it will be when we
can walk from Gore Avenue along Hastings Street to Victory Square and
not see the human tragedies that are so apparent.

We are not there yet, but already there is an obvious improvement.

Thomas Gove is the presiding judge at Vancouver's Downtown Community Court.

For more information about the court, please visit www.communitycourt.bc.ca.