June 10, 2019
Province Announces Westman Drug Treatment Court Pilot
BRANDON—A drug treatment court to help individuals who are suffering from chronic and acute substance abuse issues is being established in the Westman area, Chief Judge Margaret Wiebe and Justice Minister Cliff Cullen announced here today.
“It is well recognized that people with unique challenges such as substance abuse can benefit greatly from specialized, holistic wrap-around services,” said Wiebe. “Drug treatment court facilitates and supports this approach while dealing with the criminal justice matter before the court. The provincial court of Manitoba is therefore very pleased to be establishing such a court in the Westman area.”
The Manitoba government is providing $75,000 through the federal Drug Treatment Court Funding Program (DTCFP) to support the establishment of this court.
Drug treatment courts aim to break the cycle of drug use, criminal behaviour and incarceration by establishing a partnership between courts, treatment facilities and social service agencies. The goals of drug treatment courts are to reduce the number of crimes associated with addiction, reduce harm due to drug use, and provide the participant with the tools for vocation and educational success, positive mental and physical health, appropriate housing and improved family relationships.
“Drug treatment courts address the root causes of crime and provide participants with the community supports they need to live productive and positive lives, while reducing costs to justice, health and social services,” said Cullen. “The establishment of a drug treatment court in the Westman area supports the goals of our government’s Criminal Justice System Modernization Strategy by reducing reliance on incarceration for non-violent offenders whose crimes were committed as a result of drug addiction.”
The Westman drug treatment court judge will oversee the court, but will make decisions in consultation with a team of experts that will include the Crown, defence counsel, the program manager and the case manager. All drug treatment court participants must plead guilty to their charges, appear in court weekly and work closely with the Westman drug treatment court team to design an effective rehabilitation plan, Wiebe said.
Westman drug treatment court will work closely with the Westman Hub Table, which brings social service professionals together to connect at-risk individuals or families with supports and services proactively, to ensure participants are supported. Addictions therapy will be provided by the Addictions Foundation of Manitoba and comprehensive case plans will address issues such as housing education, employment, and physical and mental health.
Funding for the pilot is being made available through the federal Drug Treatment Court Funding Program (DTCFP), which aims to address the underlying substance-use disorders behind an offender’s appearance in court. In 2018-19, Canada and Manitoba entered into a new five-year funding agreement which renewed the ongoing funding which Canada has been providing to Manitoba through the DTCFP.
“Drug treatment courts have been proven to be more successful at tackling the root causes of criminal behaviour than conventional criminal justice strategies,” said Cullen. “By breaking the cycle of drug use, crime and incarceration, participants’ lives are directly improved and the community benefits from a reduction in recidivism, unemployment and social service agency involvement.”
The Westman drug treatment court is expected to begin taking referrals as of July 2 and expects to begin sitting in the fall of 2019, Wiebe said, adding information sessions will be offered to local stakeholders in the coming weeks.
- 30 -