To develop new criminal justice responses to street crime and disorderly behaviour in Vancouver by:

1. Defining the nature and magnitude of street crime and disorderly behaviour in Vancouver with particular attention to the:

• extent to which repeat offenders are a major cause of street crime;

• means by which the justice system can better deal with mentally disordered offenders;

• means by which the justice system can better deal with youth in conflict with the law;

• means by which the justice system can better deal with aboriginal people in conflict with the law; and the

• means by which the justice system can better deal with addicted people in conflict with the law.

2. Considering a strategic approach to crime and criminals in order to separate those cases which can be dealt with extra-judicially or with relatively little involvement in the criminal justice system from those where the protection of the public demands that the full force of the law be brought to bear. A triage process to be used by the police and Crown counsel for streaming individuals in this way might be examined.

3. Consulting with members of the community outside the justice system in an effort to achieve a cross-discipline, community-based response to street crime and disorderly behaviour.

4. Considering a variation of the “Community Court Model,” i.e. a process for dealing with street crime and disorderly behaviour in an expedited and meaningful way, coordinating access to comprehensive services for services to address some of the causes of crime.

5. Focusing on the downtown area of Vancouver initially, with a view to making use of whatever achievements are attained there as a model for use in the rest of the city and the province.

For the purposes of this project, street crime can generally be defined as crime other than commercial crime, organized crime, environmental crime or other similar offences of a complex nature. Generally speaking, street crime and disorderly behaviour are crime and behaviour which are likely to affect citizens directly in their daily lives.

The Working Group will develop proposals and provide the JRTF with specific recommendations and deliverables and will do so within set time lines to be determined by the Working Group in consultation with the JRTF.

The Working Group should be made aware of and build upon other initiatives currently underway relating to this mandate, notably:

• BC Interministry Mentally Disordered Offender Initiatives

• The MCFD Aboriginal MOU

• BC Government YCJA Implementation Process

• The Vancouver Agreement.

The JRTF has agreed there is a benefit to an appropriate integration of its efforts in the criminal justice area with relevant initiatives being carried out at the national level. Part of the mandate of the Working Group will be to determine which areas of reform can properly be integrated into national processes, and which are best dealt with in British Columbia.