Saskatchewan expands drug treatment court to North Battleford

North Battleford, Sask. is seen in this undated file photo.

The province’s new drug treatment court in North Battleford is now in session.

According to the province, the first proceeding was held at North Battleford Provincial Court in June and is an expansion of existing drug treatment courts in Regina and Moose Jaw.

The program’s expansion is meant to serve The Battlefords and west-central Saskatchewan.

To participate in drug treatment court, offenders must plead guilty to their criminal charges.

After doing so, participants in the program are required to complete 12-18 months of individualized programming with wrap-around services covering addiction, cultural and spiritual guidance, anger management, education, parenting, employment and more.

The program is run on a case-by-case basis, meaning that not all drug-related offenders will meet the criteria.

“The drug treatment courts have a mandate that they would take a certain nature of offences,” Minister of Justice Tim McLeod told reporters Wednesday.

“Obviously, violent offenses, are precluded ... these courts typically will take, primarily property offences where the individual is potentially facing a custody sentence between a year and two years.”

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Since the program began in 2006, the province says drug treatment courts in Regina and Moose Jaw have had more than 156 graduates.

“This model has been successful in southern Saskatchewan for almost 20 years, and the Provincial Court is very pleased to now expand the reach to the Battlefords and surrounding communities,” Chief Judge Shannon Metivier said in the release.

Minister McLeod emphasized the program is intended to address crime at the root cause.

“The premise of the drug treatment court is that there’s an underlying addiction that its really the cause of the criminal behavior ... we believe and we’ve seen evidence in the existing drug treatment courts that that will help them, avoid recidivism and get them out of the criminal justice system,” he explained.

While the program is intended to keep offenders out of jail, it will still requite a significant amount of work.

“This is not a slap on the wrist. This is not an easy path to follow. These are individuals who are taking accountability,” McLeod added.

“As they come into court, one of the requirements is that they accept responsibility for their offense. Then they enter the process of the programing and the resources that they need to address the underlying cause of those crimes.”

The province says it will be reimbursed from the federal government up to $850,000 each year for costs associated with the operation of its three drug treatment courts.

In response to the announcement, federal Minister of Justice and Attorney General Sean Fraser noted that substance use is a complex social and economic issue and that the court offers another avenue for those affected.

“When someone is struggling, they deserve support and the right resources. By investing in the Battlefords Drug Treatment Court, we are strengthening our justice system and helping people get the care they need to recover, break the cycle of drug use, and prevent criminals reoffending,” Fraser said.

“This ongoing support for drug treatment courts not only promotes healing but helps build healthier and safer communities.”