$30K study into possible drug treatment court in N.L.

The federal Department of Justice has given the province $30,000 for a feasibility study into establishing a drug treatment court in Newfoundland and Labrador.

The announcement was made Thursday afternoon in provincial courtroom # 7 at  Atlantic Place in St. John's by St. John's East MP Nick Whalen.

• St. John's needs a drug treatment court, says lawyer

"The statistics for substance abuse among offenders are startling," said Whalen. 

"As many as 80 per cent of all federal offenders have past or present substance abuse issues," he said. "And this number is far too high."

"Our government understands that it is critically important that our criminal justice system be flexible enough to help those with drug dependencies turn their lives around," he said.

'Positive step'

St. John's lawyer, Johnathan McDonald, has been a long-time advocate for a drug treatment court, and was at Thursday's announcement.

"I'm incredibly pleased to see both the federal and provincial governments taking this positive step," he said.

"The intention is to address the criminal behaviour of high-need individuals who have engaged in non violent offences that were motivated by their addictions," provincial Justice Minister Andrew Parsons said,

It's well-known in the St. John's area that many crimes are committed by people who need money for drugs, and that guns, knives and other weapons are often used during convenience store and gas bar robberies. 

McDonald said the feasibility study will be a great benefit in sorting out just who can go to a drug treatment court. 

"I have not advocated for drug treatment court being used for all types of crimes. Obviously, we need to draw a line somewhere," he said.

"I think the feasibility study will offer us a tremendous opportunity to say: 'Okay, where can we draw the line?' so people who are committing these crimes are getting the help they need, but we don't go too far in over-extending the reach of this court."

December target to finish study

McDonald said that if a drug court is set up, the first place should be St. John's, where he said there has been an increase in drug use, and crime related to drug use.  

"I see this court working for people who come in through a revolving door. People who are fueling their drug addictions and are committing the same types of crimes, and who aren't getting an answer from the traditional, criminal justice model."

He added that follow up is needed to keep an accused from re-offending. 

"I like the fact that there will things like counselling. I like the fact that there will be follow ups and drug tests. This is a way for these individuals to have someone monitoring them and make sure that progress is happening," McDonald said.

Justice Minister Parsons said the feasibility study will begin right away. He said they will hold discussions with the police, the judiciary, legal aid, private lawyers, and the Department of Health and Community Services, which would provide treatment, support, and counselling.

"I might be a little ambitious, but I think it might be a nice Christmas gift if we had this study done," Parsons said. And if the court is given the green light, Parsons said he'd like to see it up and running as soon as possible after that.