NCJ Number
178805
Journal
American Jails Volume: 13 Issue: 3 Dated: July/August 1999 Pages: 73-75
Date Published
August 1999
Length
3 pages
Annotation
The first drug treatment court in Canada opened at Old City Hall in Toronto in December 1998, and non-violent offenders who meet certain eligibility criteria, who are drug-dependent, or who are charged with possession of or trafficking in small quantities of crack, cocaine, or heroin are given the option of entering the court.
Abstract
The treatment component of the drug treatment court involves regular but random urinalysis, counseling, and frequent attendance at court. In order to ensure strict compliance and effective monitoring, community court liaison workers (CCLWs) attend court whenever the drug treatment court is in operation. The CCLW is the initial contact between the offender and the treatment provider, and he or she monitors program participants by advising the court of an offender's current treatment status. In addition, at the outset of an offender's introduction to the drug treatment court, the CCLW establishes linkages with community service providers to ensure appropriate referrals are made to address the specific needs of drug-dependent offenders. These referrals may include literacy, education, job readiness, and housing, as well as less concrete areas such as social skills, anger management, and parenting. The drug treatment court involves two distinct tracks: (1) track one (diversion) is available for less serious drug offenses; and (2) track two (post-plea treatment) is available for more serious drug offenses. Benefits of drug treatment courts for both offenders and communities are considered. 4 endnotes