Series: The Drug Issue: Part 5 Of 13

DRUG COURTS FIRST STEP

B.C. Solicitor General Rich Coleman says drug treatment courts, like the
one being set up in Vancouver, can help solve the drug issue.

You can put B.C. Solicitor General Rich Coleman firmly on the
rehabilitation, punishment, and education side of the drug issue.

Coleman, the MLA for Fort Langley-Aldergrove, told The Advance News
Thursday that drugs are a common foundation of many crimes.

"Drugs are the bottom rung of the ladder of crime," said Coleman. "The
growing of marijuana can give way to trafficking or to trading for cocaine
for cash, and that leads to money laundering and to other criminal
activities," he said. "There's no reason to underestimate the influence of
drugs."

Coleman said his ministry's work is focused on rehabilitation and punishment.

"I haven't entered into the safe injection site debate because I have laws
to enforce," said Coleman. "I have to make sure our infrastructure is
strong enough to handle this at the upper levels.

"We have to go after the people in organized crime who are benefitting from
this."

One of the B.C. Liberals' campaign promises was to open a drug treatment
court in Vancouver.

On Tuesday, the provincial and federal governments opened that first court.

"The objective is to enhance public safety," said Coleman. "People who
commit crimes as a result of their addiction will be getting much needed
treatment."

The drug court will try to reduce crime by reducing drug addiction through
treatment services.

Non-violent offenders will be offered an intensive and coordinated
combination of judicial supervision, multi-phased treatment for their
dependence, and other community support systems.

Charges like possession and trafficking will be able to have their cases
heard in the court.

The Drug Treatment Court is the second of its kind in Canada. Toronto's
court was established in 1998.

"This project is an example of how the criminal justice system - the
police, the judiciary, and the Bar - and the broader community can come
together to deal with the underlying causes of criminal behaviour, and help
them break the cycle of drug addiction, crime and victimization," said
Canadian Attorney General Anne McLellan.

Coleman reiterated Thursday that drugs are a major issue for his ministry,
because so much crime spreads out of that culture.

"We're not going to sit by idly," Coleman said. "We're going to work with
local and provincial police to enhance all of their capabilities, and to
integrate information from other agencies.

"We'll continue to find who is behind the grow ops, and tackle that
organized crime."