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Not enough addicts escaping relentless cycle of crime. Judging by recent comments from the Criminal Justice Branch, the B.C. government appears to b counting on the drug court to fix what ails Vancouver's 379 identified chronic addict-thieves.
If so, we're in trouble, because the rehab court's numbers just aren't adding up.
The Downtown Eastside drug-treatment legal project was masterminded in 2001 by a federal-provincial group of elected officials to reduce the use of heroin, coke and crystal meth by adults who daily ripped off businesses and citizens to finance their costly habits.
The equation was simple: reduce the habit and see crime drop.
While signs of success are visible -- enough to convince the province and feds to continue the judicial pilot project at least until 2009 -- the victories the court can claim are modest at best and certainly not enough to comfort crime-weary Vancouver citizens.
B.C.'s only drug-treatment court focuses on people facing charges fuelled by addiction, who are invited to plead guilty and voluntarily enter the program instead of heading into a sentencing hearing.
On average, about 100 druggies join annually. Immediate abstinence is required. Progress is reviewed by a prosecutor and a judge, who will impose sanctions or mete out rewards, depending on the user's efforts.
After about a year of court appearances and treatment by a specialized recovery team, offenders are expected to have conquered their addiction and found stable housing and a job, or relative training. The charges are then stayed. If offenders mess up, they are sentenced as per the regular court process.
And most of them do mess up.
Those few who hang in and complete the program are apt to stay off the dope and away from crime, but the rest return to their old habits long before their stint is up. Between 2001 and 2005, 85 per cent of participants either quit on their own or were asked to leave, a Public Safety Canada analysis shows.
And 88 per cent of that group were back on heroin, blow, crack or meth within six months, with a third having already racked up new charges and convictions within that time.
On the other hand, program completers, albeit much fewer in number, fared better. One-third tested positive for drug use within six months, while just 10 per cent faced new charges or convictions in that period.
Program enthusiasts said they were pleased with the results, given the tough demands placed on addicts to clean up, find a job and a place to live.
Fair enough.
The statistics do show a modest but definite decline in drug use and drug-related crimes among those who stayed with the program. But that's not a lot to get excited about, considering the treatment option draws so few habitual offenders-addicts in the first place.
The project can only be called a success when justice officials develop the strategies to encourage potential candidates to enter the drug-court program and, once in, to stick it out.
In the meantime, I'm with Vancouver Police Chief Jim Chu: Send them off to jail, and make sure facilities offer them plenty of treatment and recovery options. And throw in some inducements for those willing to see it through.
Joey Thompson, The Province
Published: Monday, June 23, 2008
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