Addicts, mentally ill need help, not jail time

In a rare political statement, B.C.'s highest court says system is clogged with out-of-control repeat offenders -- with no resources to aid them
Ian Mulgrew, Vancouver Sun
Published: Monday, November 26, 2007

The B.C. Court of Appeal issued a plea to Victoria on Friday to improve treatment resources for mentally ill and addicted recidivists who are clotting up the criminal legal system.

At the end of a unanimous decision, three justices -- including Chief Justice Lance Finch -- concluded a lower court judge had difficulty sentencing a 27-year-old repeat offender because there was no medical help available.

They said the case was emblematic.

"This court can do no more than to acknowledge the lack of resources and urge our legislators to respond to the need," Justice Catherine Anne Ryan wrote for the panel.

It was a rare politically tinged comment from the province's highest bench and it touched a hot-button issue.

Mentally ill and addicted repeat offenders clog the system and what to do about them is a Gordian knot.

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