A community marred by poverty, unemployment, untreated mental illness, drugs & crime

1. A community marred by poverty, unemployment, untreated mental illness, drugs & crime

2. The Mission • be innovative and problem-solving • improve offender accountability • address the underlying causes of criminal behaviors • Operate efficient, cost-effective court • build a safe, thriving, socially-cohesive community

3. Welcome to Vancouver’s Community Court • www.communitycourt.bc.ca

4. Canada’s Only Community Court • A New Approach to Crime • An Innovative, Problem-Solving, Results-Oriented Court

5. Who do we serve? Downtown Vancouver & Downtown eastside of vancouver - downtown vancouver is one of the most densely populated cities -ethnically and linguistically diverse, over 50% of population speak english as a second language - offences include: violence, drugs, property-related, nuisance, fraud and breaches of court orders

6. What do we Do Differently? 1. Integrated, multi-disciplined on-site team: • Mental Health Worker • * Mental Health Intake Assessment • * Mental Health Assessment and Case Plan • Nurse • * Addictions Brief Intake Assessment • * Health Intake/Liaison on all Referrals • * Drug Treatment Court • Probation Officer • * Alternative Measures • * Court Reviews • * Drug Treatment • Aboriginal Case Worker • * Alternative Measures • * Court Reviews • Victim Support Worker • * Follow up with Victim(s)

7. 2. Mental Health Program • Goal: To assist the mentally ill and provide integrated case planning for offenders who are chronically mentally ill • Forensic Liaison Worker • Probation Officer • Mental Health Teams • Addiction Clinics • Housing • ensure victim/community safety

8. Mental Health Program results • 90 Referrals to the program in 2011 • average of 4.2 Court Appearances resolve case

9. 3. Aboriginal Justice Program • Goals: to provide a restorative justice process which focuses on repairing the relationship between the victim, offender and community • Native-specific Counseling • Vancouver Aboriginal Transformative Justice (diversion & potlatch, elder-mediation) • 75% success rate!

10. 4. Case Management Teams Goal: To provide comprehensive and integrated support to offenders who are vulnerable, marginalized, drug-addicted, with limited access to social services in order to address underlying criminogenic factors. probation officer police officer employment assistance worker social worker health care worker aboriginal support housing support

11. 5. Chronic Offender Program (COMET) Goal: to identify OFFENDERS entrenched in criminal lifestyles and chronically offending and offer them drug recovery and intense management in the community. • Vancouver Police Chronic Offender Unit • Case Management Team • Reaching Out Recovery Home • Example of public/private partnership

12. Interesting numbers for 2011

13. Program Facts for 2011

14. Health Programs offered at community court • Acupuncture • Addiction, Education & Discussion • Harm Reduction (drug use) • Health Screening (medical care) • Relationship With Alcohol and Drugs • Life Skills Series • Cooperative Communication skills • Values & Goal Setting • Self Esteem and Community Resources • Time Management • Managing Stress

15. Other programs offered to offenders at community court • Aboriginal Front Door - Elder Mediation • Anger Management • Conflict Resolution & mediation • Crime Addicts Anonymous • Crime & Consequences • Women’s Support Program • Native Court worker & Counseling Association - Alcohol & Drug Counseling, Individual Counseling (Co-Ed & Women Only) • Restorative Art Program • Open Door Employment & Education Program

16. community service program • premised on principles of restorative justice • offender pays debt to community • Tailor offenders needs to their placement • offender is connected to social programs and community fabric

17. Building a community: Summer Lunch at Community Court The End.