Indigenous sentencing and specialized criminal courts

The Court has established a number of innovative courts around the province to better meet the needs of Indigenous and other communities.

Indigenous sentencing and specialized criminal courts

Indigenous sentencing courts

These courts do not conduct trials. They are courts for people who identify as Indigenous, indicate an intention to plead guilty to a criminal offence and depending on the specific court, have Crown counsel's agreement to participate.

Drug Treatment Court (Vancouver)

Drug Treatment Court uses a therapeutic or problem-solving approach to sentence people who commit offences to support their addiction to drugs.

Downtown Community Court (Vancouver)

Downtown Community court is a criminal bail and sentencing court for accused persons who are living with alcohol use disorder, substance use disorder or mental illness or who are experiencing homelessness or poverty.

Victoria Integrated Court (VIC)

Victoria Integrated Court conducts bail and sentencing hearings for people who are struggling with addiction, cognitive impairments, living with mental health issues, and/or experiencing homelessness.

Kelowna Integrated Court (KIC)

Kelowna Integrated Court conducts bail and sentencing hearings for people who are struggling with addiction, cognitive impairments, living with mental health issues, and/or experiencing homelessness.

Intimate partner violence courts

Intimate partner violence courts use a variety of problem-solving approaches that try to address the underlying problems contributing to criminal behaviour, while still holding people accountable.