INFORMATION BULLETIN
For Immediate Release 2009AG0028-000969 June 2, 2009	Ministry of Attorney General
UPDATE ON CANADA’S FIRST COMMUNITY COURT

VANCOUVER – Updated statistics for Vancouver’s Downtown Community Court reveal the courtroom concluded 1,273 cases between last September and April 2009. 

 

Since opening in September 2008, 1,269 accused have been through the court. The concluded cases represent 740 offenders, with many offenders having more than one case. Where needed, offenders who are convicted and sentenced are given support and services, such as health care, housing or help with obtaining income assistance.

 

Between Sept. 10, 2008 and April 30, 2009:

 

·        503 offenders were sentenced, some of them to more than one sentence.

·        181 individuals entered into alternative measures programs that assist their rehabilitation and address health and social needs.

·        811 offenders completed 3,345 hours of community service work. In the majority of cases, the work began immediately after the court’s decision. Community service can include projects like assisting in a community kitchen or cleaning up roadways and sidewalks. Most of the 811 were sentenced, but some did community service as part of an alternative measures agreement.

 

Besides ongoing cases, the community court hears between seven and 15 new cases each day.

 

The community court is located at 211 Gore Ave. The pilot was developed jointly by the Provincial Court of B.C., ministries of Attorney General and Public Safety and Solicitor General and government partners. Information on the community court is available at: www.communitycourt.bc.ca.

 

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1 backgrounder(s) attached.
Media contact:	Dave Townsend Senior Public Affairs Officer Ministry of Attorney General 250 387-4962 250 889-5945 (cell)
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