Drug Treatment Court Funding Program

INTRODUCTION

Under the Treatment Action Plan of the National Anti-Drug Strategy, the Government of Canada has committed an ongoing annual amount of approximately $3.5 million to support the Drug Treatment Court (DTC) Funding Program. There are 6 federally-funded DTC pilot sites operating in Canada: Toronto, Vancouver, Edmonton, Winnipeg, Ottawa and Regina.

DTCs represent a concerted effort to break the cycle of drug use and criminal recidivism. They focus on facilitating treatment for drug-involved offenders who meet specified criteria and provide an alternative to incarceration by offering an opportunity to complete a drug treatment program. These special courts take a comprehensive approach intended to reduce the number of crimes committed to support drug dependence through judicial supervision, comprehensive substance abuse treatment, random and frequent drug testing, incentives and sanctions, clinical case management, and social services support. They are aimed at reducing the harm people cause to themselves and to others through their drug use, as well as reducing the risk that these individuals will continue to use drugs and thereby come into conflict with the law.

For additional information on DTCs, please visit this link:

http://nationalantidrugstrategy.gc.ca/dtc-ttt.html

The objectives of the DTC Funding Program are as follows:

• To promote and strengthen the use of alternatives to incarceration with a particular focus on Aboriginal men and women and street prostitutes;
• To build knowledge and awareness among criminal justice, health and social service practitioners, and the general public about drug treatment courts; and
• To collect information and data on the effectiveness of DTCs in order to promote best practices and the continuing refinement of approaches.

DRUG TREATMENT COURT LINK

• Canadian Association of Drug Treatment Courts
  
• Toronto Drug Treatment Court
  
  • Public Safety Canada
  • Centre for Addiction and Mental Health
    
• Vancouver Drug Treatment Court
  
  • Public Safety Canada
  • Drug Treatment Court of Vancouver (DTCV)
    
• Ottawa Drug Treatment Court
  
• Regina Drug Treatment Court
  
• Edmonton Drug Treatment Court
  
• Winnipeg Drug Treatment Court
  

For further information, please contact:

Margaret Trottier
Senior Analyst
Drug Treatment Court Funding Program
Programs Branch, Department of Justice Canada
284 Wellington Street
Ottawa , Ontario K1A 0H8

Or electronically to : margaret.trottier@justice.gc.ca
Or by phone at: (613) 946-6634
Or by fax to: (613) 941-5446