Specialized B.C. court sees greater drop in recidivism than traditional courts

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VANCOUVER – A experimental court aimed at cutting crime in Vancouver’s Downtown Eastside has been successful at reducing the number of repeat offenders.

The information is in an evaluation report released by B.C.’s Justice Ministry, which also says the Vancouver provincial court seemed to be more efficient after the community court was established.

But the report notes it’s possible the increased efficiency was just part of a long-term trend rather than due to the community court’s help with the case load.

The community court was created in 2008 to help offenders break from the cycle of crime, homelessness, and mental health and addictions issues prevalent in the Downtown Eastside.

The court is the first of its kind in Canada, and brings together various agencies to address housing, health and social needs of offenders.

The B.C. government expects to use the evaluation of the Downtown Community Court to help develop a broader strategy for specialized courts in the province.

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