London Drug Treatment Court Program

What is London Drug Treatment Court?

The London Drug Treatment Court (LDTC) is a pilot project that provides court supervised addiction treatment to people addicted to cocaine, crack, methamphetamines and opiates. Non- violent individuals charged with possession of these drugs or who have been charged with small amounts for the purpose of trafficking will be considered for referral. There are some eligibility requirements that the individual must satisfy. These criteria relate to the nature of the charge and offense and some charges / convictions are excluded. As an alternative to incarceration, participants accepted into the program receive a non-custodial sentence and a period of probation following the successful completion of the program. The pilot program aims to reduce relapse to substance abuse and the risk for criminal behaviour while developing stability through supports that assist each individual.

LDTC is a collaboration and partnership of agencies that provide social and healthcare services in London. It is not currently funded permanently and is considered a pilot project. LDTC belongs to the community and is housed on this website for convenience only.

The Process

The program is completely voluntary and lawyers consult with the crown, the LDTC judge and members of the treatment team to ensure that the referral is appropriate. If the referral is accepted they enter a 30 day assessment phase and screening and assessment tools are used to determine the unique needs of each individual. A schedule of daily and weekly activities is created and the individual reports to court once a week and appears before the DTC judge. A system of graduated incentives and sanctions is used to encourage compliance with the program.

The Treatment

Participants are involved in a structured outpatient addiction treatment program with referrals for other needs as required. Random urine screenings are a part of the weekly schedule and treatment goals are set and monitored. Treatment staff collaborates closely with all of the community supports and progress is discussed and monitored weekly with all relevant parties including the Drug Treatment Court judge. Participants progress through various stages / phases of treatment as they increase their ability to manage their drug use and achieve social stability. Counselling services are also available to family members of drug court participants.

London Drug Treatment Court Program:   Update / Plans For The Future

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Please "click here" for more information about partners and the referral process.