Calgary Web Designer Jenn Armour | Info Architecture + User Centric Web Design + Online Marketing + Social Media + Ideas

Opening of Vancouver’s Downtown Community Court

// September 28th, 2008 // Ramblings

I had the privilege of attending Vancouver’s Downtown Community Court’s bbq.  Canada’s first community court in downtown Vancouver hopes to help offender’s break free from the cycle of crime, homelessness, addiction and mental illness. Through bringing together services and agencies DCC hopes to facilitate solutions to the problem of crime in Vancouver’s’ downtown.  Services such as health, income assistance, housing, victim services, native court worker’s, probation officer’s, and police are integrated all under one roof.   

DCC’s mission is to address the underlying health and social issues that preclude criminal behavior.  

“The community court will address crime in a timely way so that offenders see the consequences of their behavior.  The court will connect with businesses and service agencies in downtown Vancouver to find community service opportunities that will be of most benefit to them and allow offenders to make reparation to the community”

The Marijuana Party recently wrote an article on the history of Vancouver’s DTES with respect to the addiction/crime problems and harm reduction.  It is interesting that the government official found those using drugs and committing crime were of moral deficiencies and shortcomings. I would be very curious to know what method’s the  ’scientist’ used to conclude his/her findings? 

Educated in psychology I know how elusive and non-conclusive qualitative research can be.  All right, okay it was in the 1950’s.  Thank God we have come along way since then in viewing addiction as an illness.

 In an article ‘Prescribed heroin promising for managing addiction‘ the prescribed opiate treatment has helped some addicts improve their lives. “I think that what we can see from the experience over the past few years is that the treatment appears to be very safe,” Schechter said.  I’m curious to know how effective it is once the narcotics are no longer prescribed.

 The article goes on to say, “Schneiderman said. Some participants said they had stopped committing crimes in order to buy heroin, and others had found employment. “I know that Dr. Schechter has told stories of people who have thanked him”

The Community Court is a solutions based court.  The police will have a chance at doing their job more effectively in the DTES because DCC opens the doors for crimes to be heard quickly.  People who go through the court will have the opportunity to access services and supports that they would otherwise not have been in contact with. The community court model has been highly successful in big Amercian cities like New York and Seattle. Hopefully it will find success right here in Vancouver.