Connecting the Community to Vancouver's Downtown Community Court
Early Solutions - Faster Justice: Justice Reform in B.C.
Origin of the Downtown Community Court
In March 2004, the Attorney General announced that a Street Crime Working Group would inquire into crime in Vancouver's downtown core and provide a report with recommendations. One of the recommendations in the subsequent September 2005 report [PDF] was a community court for the downtown Vancouver area that would take a problem-solving approach to crimes committed in that community. Government accepted that recommendation and a community court is anticipated to open in Vancouver later this year.
Vancouver's Downtown Community Court is one of the key strategic priorities of the Ministry of Attorney General for achieving an effective criminal justice system.
Vision for the Downtown Community Court
The justice, health and social welfare systems will work as an integrated case management team. They will link community social services and health resources with the justice system to address crime in Vancouver's downtown core.
A Problem-Solving Approach
The court will bring together justice, health and social services to improve responses to crime. The following organizations are working together to support Vancouver's Downtown Community Court:
- the provincial judiciary
- Ministry of Attorney General
- Ministry of Public Safety and Solicitor General
- Ministry of Employment and Income Assistance
- Legal Services Society
- Vancouver Coastal Health
- Forensic Psychiatric Services Commission
- BC Housing
- Public Prosecution Service of Canada
- Vancouver Police Department and
- the defence Bar.
Who Will Use the Court
Many of the individuals who appear in court in downtown Vancouver are arrested several times a year. Their criminal activities affect the quality of life in the community and take up significant justice system resources. Offenders often spend long periods of time in custody awaiting trial. Many, if released on bail in the community, fail to appear in court when required, leading to further charges and delays in the court process.
These people are not simply criminal offenders. They are also frequently homeless, suffering from mental illness and addictions and/or lacking in job skills and social supports. Many of the same people who end up in the criminal justice system are also served by health and social service systems.
Vancouver's Downtown Community Court will co-ordinate the delivery of justice, health and social services to address these individual's problems, with particular emphasis on addictions and mental illness.
 Benefits of Vancouver's Downtown Community Court
Integration: There will be better integration among agencies who deliver services to these offenders. This will result in more effective and efficient use of justice, health and social services.
Efficiency: Through efficient case management, street crime prosecutions will proceed swiftly, with fewer court appearances. This will ensure earlier case resolution, with offenders being held accountable more quickly.
Sentences to Address Causes of Criminal Behaviour: Court decisions will be based on the most current information about the accused's background, criminal history and health and social service needs. Sentences will address both the crime and the underlying causes of the crime, which will have a positive impact on changing criminal behaviour.
Offences
Vancouver's Downtown Community Court will deal with most offences currently heard in the Provincial Court. The court will hear a broad range of crimes, including theft, breaking into cars, causing a disturbance and assaults.
Neighbourhoods Served
Vancouver's Downtown Community Court will serve the downtown peninsula west of Clark Drive, where a significant portion of Vancouver's crime occurs. Only crimes committed in this area will be referred to the community court.
Community Consultations
Consultations are being conducted with Vancouver civic and community organizations on issues related to the startup and operation of the court and on practical roles for the community. Through the creation of a community advisory committee and other communications, the court will work, on an ongoing basis, to respond to community priorities. The community will assist in developing solutions to these priorities.
Vancouver's Downtown Community Court is intended to be the community's court. It will be part of the solution to crime issues in the downtown core.
Opening Date
The court is expected to open in 2008.
Location
The community court will be located behind the Provincial Court at 222 Main St., with a separate entrance on Gore St. The building will require some interior renovations.
Feedback
Send suggestions about the types of organizations that should be represented on the Downtown Community Court's Community Advisory Committee by email to: CommunityCourt@gov.bc.ca |
