Specialized courts

Specialized courts are used in the majority of provinces and territories and provide invaluable services to legal aid clients

Specialized or problem-solving courts focus on a particular type of offence or accused. They typically involve an interdisciplinary team that is focused on addressing the underlying causes of offending bringing the accused into contact with the criminal legal system. The following section provides information on the specialized courts operating in Canada. Figure 23 provides an overview of the service delivery models available at specialized courts across Canada.

Mental Health and Wellness/Community Courts

Mental health courts are designed to assist accused persons who have mental health issues. This typically involves specially trained personnel and processes that take into consideration the difficulties that a person with mental health issues may encounter in the criminal justice process.

Wellness/community courts offer integrated supports and services designed to offer a more compassionate and effective response for those who enter the system due to their mental health struggles and to address the problems associated with repeat offenders struggling to reintegrate into society.

There are 11 jurisdictions that operate mental health and wellness/community courts: Newfoundland and Labrador, Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, Quebec, Ontario, Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Alberta, British Columbia, Northwest Territories, and Yukon.

Drug Treatment Courts

Drug Treatment Courts contribute to reducing criminal recidivism associated with substance use by offering eligible adult accused with a substance use disorder the opportunity to complete a court monitored drug treatment program as an alternative to a finding of guilt or incarceration. Drug Treatment Courts and other therapeutic justice programs with a substance use treatment component currently operate in British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, Ontario, Quebec, Nova Scotia, Newfoundland and Labrador, Northwest Territories, Yukon, and Nunavut.

Indigenous Peoples Court (IPC)/Gladue Courts

Indigenous Peoples Court/Gladue courts offer restorative justice and traditional approaches to proceedings through the regular court systems for Indigenous people. These courts currently operate in Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, Quebec, Ontario, Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Alberta, and British Columbia.

Youth Courts

Youth between the ages of 12 and 17 who are accused of a crime have their matters heard in youth court, which is a separate court division. Youth courts currently operate in every province and territory in Canada.

Family/Domestic Violence Courts

Family/domestic violence courts are designed to handle cases of family/domestic violence by offering an integrated, collaborative approach focusing on supporting victims, increasing accused responsibility, and providing early intervention. These courts currently operate in Newfoundland and Labrador, Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, Quebec, Ontario, Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Alberta, British Columbia, Yukon, and Northwest Territories.