Lethbridge courthouse. (Lethbridge News Now)

By David Opinko

Lethbridge being considered for “alternative justice” drug treatment court

Jan 14, 2020 | 12:20 PM

LETHBRIDGE, AB – The city could soon see the permanent establishment of an alternate way of dealing with people who are charged with certain non-violent, drug-related crimes that are driven by drug addiction.

In a letter dated December 17, 2019, Alberta Justice Minister and Solicitor General Doug Schweitzer told Lethbridge Mayor Chris Spearman that “the ministry is considering Lethbridge as a possible site for a drug treatment court.”

LNN reported in November 2019 that the provincial government was investing another $20-million into the courts, but there was no word on when or where they might be expanding to.

“Any supports would be helpful and the challenge has been always that we don’t have a full spectrum of supports and we’ve had no control over it as a city,” says Spearman.

There are currently two drug treatment courts in Alberta. They have been in operation in Calgary and Edmonton since 2007 and are considered pilot projects.

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Instead of sending people to jail, offenders in these situations are offered a treatment program that includes “weekly court intervention, addiction treatment, and a range of programming to address the drug addiction and change the patterns of thinking that perpetuate criminal and addictive behavior.”

According to the Calgary Drug Treatment Court, seven out of 10 graduates of the program have not re-offended, there was a reduction in recidivism of 81.9%, and out of 36 participants who were studied, 31 paid taxes in 2017 and all were employed.

“The drug use problem has escalated each and every year and now we have crime-related problems associated with drug addiction and we definitely need the services, so a drug treatment court would be welcome,” adds Spearman.

The mayor says there has been a sort of voluntary drug treatment court in Lethbridge recently where certain judges and crown prosecutors have been handling some offenders in a manner similar to this.

It has been unfunded up to this point, but Spearman believes it would be great to have an actual system in place that would be funded by the province.

There have been no formal announcements regarding a potential drug treatment court in Lethbridge, so Spearman was not sure when or if it might come to the city.

For more information on Calgary’s drug treatment court, use this link.