The Toronto Drug Treatment Court

Paper Summary:

This paper explains that the Toronto drug treatment court (DTC), a diversion program, has been a response to a Canadian normative criminal justice system that does not approach the underlying problem of addiction. The author points out that diversion programs, such as DTCs, are ways to interrupt the continuum of incarceration now associated with offenses created by the drug culture. The paper relates that the conventional criminal justice system offers little or nothing to counteract addiction beyond a possible referral to a treatment center, which usually brings no results. The author underscored that the Toronto DTC has a 4% recidivism rate as compared to a 45% recidivism rate of persons charged with drug-related offenses who do not pursue treatment diversion. The paper states that the cost-benefit analysis underscores the savings to the taxpayer.

Table of Contents:
Introduction
The Toronto Drug Treatment Court
Suitable Offenders
Making an Honest Effort
The Rights of the Offender
Benefits
Challenges to Expanding Drug Diversion Programs
Concluding Remarks

From the Paper:

"The Toronto Drug Treatment Court is located in the Old City Hall complex as is thought to be Canada's busiest court house, a place to be experienced for its many mainly poor Canadians to appear, its old fashioned premises and the main venue of the city's Aboriginal Diversion (Gladue) Court. On two visits to Drug Treatment Court, it was observed that the atmosphere is civil and collaborative. Judges spoke in a direct humane manner to offenders unlike what was observed in other criminal court settings. Support workers from agencies and volunteer groups, including former graduates of the Court, were present."

Sample of Sources Used:

• Barnes, K. (2006). The Toronto Drug Treatment Court - Key Components. Toronto: Department of Justice.
• Bentley, P. (1999). Canada's First Drug Treatment Court. Toronto: Ontario Court of Justice. Bindman, S. (2005). The Toronto Drug Treatment Court Program. Ottawa: Department of Justice Canada. (Overview). October 20.
• Bittle, S. (2002). Youth Involvement in Prostitution - a Literature Review and Annotated Bibliography. Ottawa: Department of Justice Canada.
• Bolan, K. (2007). Canadian Drug Traffickers Go Global - Materials for Deadly Drugs are Legally Imported by Criminals. Vancouver Sun. March 17.
• Curley, R. (1999). Drug Court Boom may bust treatment availability. Boston University Digest of Addiction Theory and Application. 18: 10-11.

More papers on The Toronto Drug Treatment Court:

• Essay # 83963 : "Drug Treatment "
• Term Paper # 133346 : "A Social Worker Looks at Drug Treatment"
• Term Paper # 92487 : "Drug Treatment"

APA Citation:

MLA Citation: