August 28, 2008 - Wait-lists may stymie new court

Wait-lists may stymie new court

A local Criminologist is concerned wait-lists for addictions treatment and social housing will be a roadblock to Vancouver's Downtown Community Court, set to open September 10.

Heidi Currie, an instructor at Douglas College, took her Comparative Justice Systems class to New York City to see an established community court system in action this past summer. While she and her students were impressed with what they saw, it left Currie with many questions about how Vancouver's facilities will handle the needs of the local community court.

"What they saw on this trip was so hopeful and something that works. But what they've seen takes millions of dollars. In Canada, funding to the system is so piecemeal," says Currie.

The Downtown Community Court will handle lower-level offences like drugs, prostitution and theft. It will offer help to offenders with the problems often at the root of their behaviour, including homelessness, addictions, mental health issues and unemployment. If they refuse to comply, they can face jail time.

Currie and her students were impressed with the work done by community courts in Midtown and Red Hook, NY. They noted that in Midtown, businesses put up money to help fund the system. Currie is unsure of how that kind of support will translate in Canada.

"How will an overloaded medical system secure addictions treatment when there are already waitlists here?" asks Currie.

However, Currie remains cautiously optimistic that the Vancouver court will be a success.

"In criminology, so much of what my students see is a train wreck, soul destroying and not working. What they've seen during this trip is so hopeful. It's something that works," says Currie.

"What really hit me in New York was that people feel safe in this huge city. So why can't we do it if they can do it?"

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