Vancouver’s Community Court program reduces reoffense rates
Posted March 5, 2014 11:24 pm.
This article is more than 5 years old.
VANCOUVER (NEWS1130) – The final evaluation for Vancouver’s Downtown Community Court pilot project was released Wednesday and findings show the program aimed at helping Downtown Eastside offenders break the cycle of crime had a very successful start.
Part of the evaluation looked at 250 people in the community court program who were given access to social services to help with health and housing issues between the start of the program in 2008 and 2011. Those participats were then compared with an equal number of similar offenders in the traditional provincial court system who weren’t referred to any social services.
SFU Professor Dr. Julian Somers lead the peer reviewed study on outcomes for offenders. He says people facing homelessness, addiction and mental health issues, had better outcomes when participating in community court. “The model appears to be a more effective one than the traditional administration of justice at least for offenders with highly complex problems.”
Somers says the outcomes are very encouraging. “These problem solving courts can provide a more effective pathway to recovery, not only personal recovery, but recovery meaning reductions in future crime.” He adds the program also seemed to boost public safety on the Downtown Eastside because offenders were able to establish a more stable life.
The evaluation also included two other studies, one on court efficiency and another on community engagement. Somers’ study has been published in the online scientific journal PLOS ONE.
With positive results from the evaluation, the BC Ministry of Justice say they are now considering expanding the program across the province as they look at developing a broader strategy to be completed by 2015. The Downtown Community Court is the first of its kind in Canada.
