Vancouver's Downtown Community Court

Vancouver’s Downtown Community Court (DCC) is a partnership between the Provincial Court of B.C., justice, health and social services, and community members. Together, they work to address complex crime issues in downtown Vancouver.

On this page

• What the DCC does
• How the court works
• DCC principles
• Types of offences often heard by the court

What the DCC does

The court provides sanctions, services and interventions to individuals who encounter the justice system to create a safer, more liveable downtown community. Court partners collaborate to foster a sense of responsibility in individuals and change their behaviour to reduce the harm caused to the community from unlawful acts.

How the court works

The court’s problem-solving and coordinated approach:

DCC principles

These principles guide how the DCC works with individuals and the community:

Responsive

Individuals are assessed and connected with services such as income assistance, addiction and mental health support, and health care.

Connected

Input from area residents, business owners, community agencies, and others helps identify services in the area that will be most beneficial to individuals.

Collaborative

Health, forensic psychiatric services, income assistance, Indigenous partners, and housing staff work together under one roof alongside prosecutors, defence counsel, court clerks, sheriffs, police, probation officers, victim services, and others. 

Types of offences often heard by the court

These are examples of the types of offences the court usually hears:

Criminal Code offences

Offences where the Crown proceeds summarily (for example, theft, mischief, assault, break and enter).

Offences related to non-compliance with community court orders

Failing to appear in court and violating the terms of a court order.