Drug Courts

WHEREAS the cost in 200001 for adults to be housed in correctional facilities was 2.5 billion up from 2.4 billion in 199900; AND WHEREAS the average expense in British Columbia per adult inmate was 161day and per youth was 61day; AND WHEREAS out of the 28,926 cases, 184 were young offenders and 77 of those were imprisoned for a total of 4,697day; AND WHEREAS 53 of federal incarcerations were for violent crimes and 17 of those were drug related; AND WHEREAS five years after Canadas first drug treatment court was established in Toronto there are definite signs of success with two more drug treatment courts opening in Vancouver and St. John, NB and three more to be established, and New York has been able to close prisons with a projected savings of 18 million: THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that UBCM work with the provincial government to urge the federal government to supply adequate funding for drug treatment courts in all areas of British Columbia and accessible to all British Columbians.