In his report to North Battleford City Council Monday, Community Safety Co-ordinator Herb Sutton said the idea of an additions treatment court remains a popular one.
In addressing how mental health and addictions affect community safety, a problem solving court met early in September, said Sutton. Out of that meeting, two subgroups were formed.
One group will be looking at a possible screening assessment tool to be used when a person is charged with a criminal offence and ready to be released on conditions, he said. It would help determine what kind of services are needed to ensure the offender is able to meet the release conditions.
The second group will be looking at the possibility of establishing an addiction treatment court, similar to the successful Domestic Violence Treatment Option Court that's been in place in North Battleford since 2003.
Sutton said he was pleased to say Judge Dan O'Hanlon will take the lead on this issue.
The idea of an addition treatment court keeps coming up in community safety conversations, said Sutton.
"Everybody supports the addiction treatment court," he told council. "The one issue is it's going to cost money. There aren't existing resources to do that work."
