With part of the $574 million invested in mental health and addiction services in the 2024-25 provincial budget, the Drug Treatment Court program is being expanded to include North Battleford.

Drug Treatment Courts provide an alternative approach to offenders experiencing an addiction and facing drug charges. The program tracks and measures compliance, including minimum clean time and minimum time without re-offending.

When participants have met all conditions for graduation, which include over 200 hours of class time, satisfactory treatment progress, a minimum of three months without drugs, six months crime free, involvement in drug-free social activities, employment or school attendance and a long-term recovery plan, they are sentenced on the charges that they originally pleaded guilty to when they entered the program.

The North Battleford Drug Treatment Court will start operation in late Fall 2024.