Meeting:  chair, Duane; music, Jerome; grace, David Turner

 

Attendance/Guests:  27 including Judge Elizabeth Johnston, spouse of Rob Dunseith and guest speaker; Sandra Johnson, Rotary Club of Placentia, Belize; former member Ben Turner

 

E4C Cleanup:  because of the low temperature on May 4, the cleanup has been rescheduled to May 14, 6:00 p m at Alex Taylor School

 

Gift Cards:  please purchase from Rob Dunseith

 

Rotary Cleanup at Fort Edmonton:  David Gibbens announced this cleanup is set for 9:00 a m May 10; a movie on the Rotary District 5370 Fort Edmonton Hotel Project will be shown at 11:00; BBQ will be served at the end of the cleanup, ending around 2:00 p m

 

Grandview Extended Care Concert:  Ingrid advised that the concert scheduled for May 7 has been rescheduled for May 14 @ 2:00 p m

 

50/50:  Sandra Johnson and Fred did not match cards; $300 carried over

 

 

 

Bob Kimmerly:  Bob had some side effect problems with medication after his heart attack;  we hope he continues to get well and can return to the Rotary Club soon

 

Rotary Club of Placentia, Belize:  Duane read a letter thanking our club for the recent work done on the school library and all previous projects performed;  future visits include Cathy Graves-Evans and the school training crew in the summer plus Fred and the construction Rotarians in November

 

Induction of New Member:  Spencer Mueller was inducted to Rotary Club of Edmonton West as a transfer from Rotary Club of Highlands Ranch, Denver, Colorado.  Spencer mentioned that he and his wife Diane found it a challenge to find a local Rotary Club that had a program of projects that would interest them.  Welcome Spencer; we hope we don't disappoint

 

Guest Speaker:  Rob Dunseith introduced his spouse Judge Elizabeth Johnson of the Alberta Provincial Court.  Elizabeth was an air force brat, eventually settled in Edmonton, attended Harry Ainley High School, and became a lawyer in 1979.  After 26 years in civil litigation, she became a judge in the criminal court and, in 2012, became the coordinating judge in the drug court.  The drug court combines the legal issues concerning drug use addiction and criminal behaviour.  The first such court was established in Miami in 1989, followed by a United Nations drug treatment report in the 1990's, with Toronto setting up in 1998.  The effect or intent is to address more rehab and less criminality.

 

The Edmonton Drug Treatment and Rehabilitation Court is overseen by a program management committee and the University of Alberta is tracking the progress.  John Howard Society gets the federal money and employs the participants.  The treatment team includes an executive director, a probation officer, a clinical supervisor and 2 treatment professionals.  The court team has 5 judges that rotate the duties, a dedicated crown prosecutor, defense counsel, duty counsel and the court sits Wednesday and Thursday afternoons.  The participating defendants appear each week.  There is a pre court meeting to identify problem issues per defendant.  The initial appearance involves a criminal offence charge and the participant applies to appear before the court.  The court is oversubscribed, does not operate a revolving waiting list but when the waiting list is opened, it is filled quickly with applications going to the crown prosecutor. 

 

The court does not hear defendants who have gang connections nor exhibit violent behaviour.  The target group is a high need high risk niche of people not likely to succeed in any other judicial program.  Thus they tend to be seriously addicted with long criminal records.  If they are accepted to appear before this special court, they sign a waiver acknowledging the need to abide by all the rules of the program and they plead guilty to at least one charge.  The offer from the Crown includes a penalty clause of what they agree to suffer and what the Crown will ask for if they do not comply with the rules.  The program has strict bail conditions, all defendants must attend treatment, they get medical and dental needs looked after and mental health issues are addressed.  They are taught life skills including parenting and cooking.  They must perform community service and are given a minimum number of hours that have to be performed.  A 12 step program must be attended and proof of attendance is required at each weekly court appearance.  In this appearance they tell what has happened in the last week including their progress, their problems. This  reporting to a person in authority is a big part of the success of the program.  There is random drug testing and relapses are expected.  If the defendant is honest about the situation they get help.  If not, they get sanctions which start with extra community service hours.  Rewards for progress include gift cards, extension of curfew, extended use of cell phones.  If they continue to exhibit problem behaviour, they have to read essays before the court, can have bail revoked for a week (a week in remand centre wakes some of them up), then eventual termination from the program (back to criminal court).  Graduates from the program get a formal graduation ceremony; the goal is being clean for 4 months with good behaviour for 8 months.  The sentence upon graduation is 1 day in jail.  Success of the court is supported by reports that police encounters by the defendants are reduced by 65% and 81% have no new convictions.  The court is cost effective as 36% graduate.

 

Elizabeth was thanked by Mike Ryan, not a graduate of this program but still 26 years clean (congratulations Mike).