Downtown Community Court Canadian Criminal Justice Association CONGRESS 2009 Halifax, Nova Scotia October 30, 2009 Honourable Judge Tom Gove Provincial Court of British Columbia Vancouver, British Columbia

Why was a Community Court Needed? Street Crime Working Group Problem-solving approach Offender profile: –50% suffer from mental disorder and/or substance abuse –Many effectively homeless –Overlap of clients and service providers

Problem-solving Court Judiciary can’t solve problem alone Problem-solving approach to address root causes of criminal behaviour Integrated teams to assess, plan, case manage offenders Hold offenders accountable in timely way – appear in days, not months Create new opportunities for community participation in the criminal justice system

Court relates to a specific Community Identify what is important to the community Ongoing dialogue with community representatives – Advisory Council Offenders repay community through work Partnerships with business associations, residents associations, service providers, church groups, etc. to create meaningful work and other opportunities for offenders

Geographic Area 2,000 accused in first year 30 – 60 each day 70% of downtown crime including: –theft –car break ins –assaults –possess drug

Agencies at Community Court Provincial Court of British Columbia Judiciary AG: Crown, Sheriffs, Clerks Sol Gen: Probation Officers, Victim Services Vancouver Police Housing Social Development (Income Assistance) Vancouver Coastal Health Authority Forensic Psychiatric Services Legal Aid: Staff and Roster Defense Lawyers Native Court worker City of Vancouver Federal Prosecution Services

Triage Team Collect information starting at 7 am Probation Officer Forensic Psychiatric Nurse Vancouver Coastal Health Nurse Additional information sought from: Vancouver Police Officer Native Court Worker Income Assistance Worker Housing Support Worker Victim Services Worker Forensic Psychiatrist is available Meet with Crown and Defense Counsel

Triage - Follow up options Accused must consent to interviews for brief intake assessments by: Psychiatric Nurse – metal health Nurse - addiction Probation Officer Native Court Worker

Outcome of Triage Assessment Alternate measures – 18% of cases Mentally Disordered Offenders Appropriate for Case Management Team Information to proceed with sentencing Crown and Defense obtain information about offender – reduces delays

Different procedures in court –Courtroom layout – more like a circle –Offenders sit with defense lawyer - are encouraged to participate in discussing their sentence –Victims are encourage to attend and participate – assisted by Victim Support Worker –Offenders approach judges’ bench where orders are signed –Offenders released from the courtroom –Staff take offenders directly from courtroom to workers in the building

Range of Sentences Must be consistent with Criminal Code Alternative measures Diversion of Mentally Disordered Offenders Fines Probation Conditional Sentence Orders Incarceration – usually with probation to follow

Typical community sentences Bail, Probation or Conditional Sentence: Report to probation officer or supervisor –Community corrections offices –Specialized integrated offices –DCC Case Management Teams Attend counseling (broadly defined) Community services – through DCC Area restrictions

Case Management Teams 2 Teams manage 150 offenders –Probation Officers –Health Justice Liaison Workers –Income Assistance Worker Shared Support for both teams - Vancouver Police Officer –VPD specialty units (Chronic Offender) –Housing Worker –Native Court Worker –Victim Support Worker –System Negotiator Work with existing specialized programs

Community Service Most offenders on Alternate Measures or serving a community sentence perform a number of hours of Community Service: Repay the effected community for harm Served in the community Often begin the same day Relatively short number of hours (2 – 20) Two streams Street work crews (2) Placement in 24 agencies with opportunity to link the offender to services (e.g., health, housing, income and employment)

Informational Sessions Most offenders on Alternate Measures or serving a Community Sentence attend informational Sessions Health information sessions Alcohol and drug counseling Specific Aboriginal groups Money skills Shoplifters Program Crime and Consequences Wellness Program Other –Flower arranging support group –Will develop as needed

Evaluation SFU Criminology Analysis of how Community Court is doing What we learn from DCC will inform Courts throughout the Province

How are we doing? First year: September 10, 2008 – September ,111 offenders 250 Alternate Measures 945 completed Community Services: 7,664 hours 674 attended Health Information Sessions 254 placed into Housing Vancouver Police Department Street disorder (such as assaults & open drug use) February 2008: 1720 February 2009: 1216 –30% reduction