DRUG COURT EYED

Trying drug offenders in a separate court is among the refinements being
considered for the judicial system of the 21st century. "We've been doing a
lot of conceptual discussion about that ... (Alberta has) done some of that
in domestic violence, for example, and other areas," provincial Justice
Minister Dave Hancock said after addressing the Calgary Chamber of Commerce
yesterday.

Hancock said the notion of an independent court for drug-related cases is a
good idea, but it's still a few years away.

For one thing, drug cases are generally dealt with by a special federal
prosecutor, not provincial Crown attorneys.

"I think drug courts can have an important role but we need to know and
understand that role and then we've got to figure out that resourcing,"
Hancock said.

"If it's a good idea, you've got to bring some resources to the table to
help get that done."

He said the real advantage of such a system would be speeding up the legal
process and making help available for people who have a drug problem and
want to leave that lifestyle.

"So ... there's opportunities for you to do that," he said.

Since it would tie a number of community service agencies together, such a
court would likely have a higher success rate than the current system,
added Maj. Barbara Bain, program co-ordinator for the Salvation Army
correctional and justice services in Calgary and a member of the city's
steering committee for the drug treatment court program.

"We feel it's a very good and viable program and it's very needed in
Calgary," Bain said.