CITY EYES DRUG COURT

A special drug court could be coming as part of several
recommendations of a drug-crime task force struck by the city two years ago.

The idea is one of several in Surrey's drug abuse plan expected before
council next month.

Coun. Dianne Watts, who chairs the task force, said Tuesday that drugs
are central to the city's crime problems.

"In order to deal with the core issues of crime, we need to deal with
drugs and substance abuse," Watts said.

The drug court would be based on Vancouver's drug treatment court,
which was created to address the needs of non-violent offenders who
charged with criminal offences motivated by substance abuse.

Eligible persons are offered an intensive combination of judicial
supervision, drug treatment, and a range of other community support
services.

It provides a treatment option for those caught up in the criminal
justice system, and ultimately reduces the burden and long-term cost
of processing high numbers of drug-related cases and repeat offenders.

It could also benefit those individuals who would not normally seek
out treatment for their drug dependence.