Edmonton Drug Treatment & Community Restoration Court

The purpose of the Edmonton DTC Program is to break the cycle of substance abuse, destructive behaviours and crime, and assist the participating offender in exiting the revolving door of long term and repeated criminal acts and other behaviour that leads to harmful results and repetitive participation in the traditional criminal justice process. 

This destructive cycle was referred to by the Ministers of Justice and Health in their joint announcement of the Federal drug treatment court funding program on December 2, 2004, as evident in the following extract.

OTTAWA December 3, 2004 – The (then) Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada, Irwin Cotler, and the (then) Minister of Health, Ujjal Dosanjh, launched [on the above date] a call for proposals to establish new drug treatment courts across Canada.

“Drug treatment courts have shown considerable promise in helping to break the detrimental cycle of addiction, criminal behaviour and jail for certain drug offenders,” said Minister Cotler. “Expanding the program shows how we can work together – governments, communities and individuals – to reduce crime by dealing with its root causes.”

“By emphasizing treatment rather than incarceration, drug treatment courts can help reduce the tremendous burden of substance abuse and its related health, social and economic costs,” said Minister Dosanjh. “This initiative is an important component of Canada ’s Drug Strategy, which takes a balanced approach to reducing both the demand for and supply of drugs.”

“Drug treatment courts aim to reduce crime committed as a result of drug dependency through court-monitored treatment and community service support for offenders with drug addictions. By helping non-violent offenders deal with their addictions and improve their social stability, the program also reduces the criminal behaviour associated with substance abuse.”