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How to Apply
All participants in the EDTCRC must:
- Be at least 18 years old;
- Be drug dependent at the time of arrest;
- Have committed a non-violent offence;
- Be charged with offences of simple possession, possession for the purpose of trafficking and trafficking; and/or charged with a Criminal Code offence, where the offence is related to drug addiction.
The EDTCRC, particularly during the first two years of operation, will especially target offenders who are young adults, those who have been involved in prostitution, or those who are Aboriginal.
Applying to the EDTCRC
- Referral: People can be referred to the EDTCRC by their defense counsel, a law enforcement officer, a friend or family member, or can refer themselves. The referral is made by contacting the EDTCRC Crown counsel.
- EDTCRC Crown Screening: The Crown will screen applicants based on the basic pre-conditions listed above. They will also consider the seriousness of the offence, the characteristics and circumstances of the offence, whether the offence was solely for commercial purposes, gang involvement, and the individual’s criminal history.
- Intake and Assessment: If the Crown counsel decides that the person is eligible to apply, the applicant will then take part in an Intake Interview and an Addictions Assessment. This will help the EDTCRC team decide whether the applicant is a good fit for the program.
- Offer of Admission: If the EDTCRC team accepts the applicant into the program, the judge will have a discussion with the applicant at the next EDTCRC court appearance. The final decision about offering admission into the program rests with the EDTCRC Judge.
- Provisional Phase: If the applicant accepts, she must enter a guilty plea to her charges and sign the Program Waiver. During the first 60 days of taking part in the program, the participant may choose to leave the program, and can have this guilty plea withdrawn. He or she will then return to the regular court system.