Criminal Justice Reform: Early Solutions | Faster Justice B.C. Home Page

Criminal Justice Reform Projects

Vancouver's Downtown Community Court

Vancouver's Downtown Community Court is the first of its kind in Canada.

  • At its core, the community court is about partnership and problem solving. It's about creating new relationships, both within the justice system and with health and social services, community organizations, area residents, merchants, faith communities and schools.
  • The community court is about testing new ways to reduce crime and improve public safety. It deals with offenders more quickly through a more co-ordinated and informed response.
  • A high number of offenders in downtown Vancouver have health and social problems, including alcoholism, drug addiction, mental illness, homelessness and poverty. The court takes a problem-solving approach to address offenders' needs and circumstances and the underlying causes of their criminal behaviour.
  • Vancouver's Downtown Community Court opened in summer 2008. It will work with about 1,500 offenders each year. There are two courtrooms in the community court, which is located at 211 Gore Ave.

This website explains how the community court works, who is involved with it and how the community can participate.

Please see this news release and backgrounder for additional details on the opening of the Downtown Community Court.

For information on the the community court's first year of operation, please see this news release and factsheet (PDF/137KB).