Calgary Drug Treatment Court

What Calgary Drug Treatment Court does

The Calgary Drug Treatment Court (CDTC) is a therapeutic justice program operated by The Calgary Drug Treatment Court Society, a registered non-profit society (CRA #803850916RR0001) founded in 2007. It provides a pre-sentence alternative to incarceration for adults (18+) charged with drug-driven offenses typically carrying a likely sentence of one to five years, integrating judicial supervision with intensive evidence-based treatment grounded in Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Dialectical Behavioral Therapy, social learning theory, behavior theory, and trauma-informed practice. The program follows a 5-stage structured model that includes frequent and random drug testing, sanctions and rewards, and close court monitoring, supplemented by population-specific tracks for Indigenous/First Nations participants, women, and employment-focused reintegration, plus a Day Program for intensive daytime treatment.

The core operational technology is the 5-stage court-supervised treatment protocol itself, combined with a curated ecosystem of more than 85 community partner agencies delivering detox, residential addiction treatment, mental health, opioid agonist therapy, housing, parenting support, recovery meetings (AA/NA/SMART), and employment services. CDTC does not offer a software product, API, or platform; it is a service-delivery model rather than a technology product, and its principal "assets" are its program methodology, its institutional relationships with Provincial and Federal Crown prosecutors, Legal Aid Alberta, Alberta Health Services, and its documented outcomes (76% recidivism reduction, 70% crime-free graduates, 67% fewer police contacts).

The business model is grant-funded non-profit, not commercial: CDTC is free to eligible participants and is funded primarily by the Government of Alberta ($20 million committed over four years from 2019 to create Canada's first Provincial Drug Treatment Court Program) and the Government of Canada, supplemented by charitable foundations (Calgary Foundation, Shaw Foundation, CM Foundation, Church of Christ) and individual donations. Go-to-market is referral-based, with intake flowing through legal counsel, duty counsel, the Crown, and court services. Capacity has doubled from 20 to 40 participants per year and the model has been replicated to Lethbridge and Medicine Hat.

Name

Calgary Drug Treatment Court

Legal name

The Calgary Drug Treatment Court Society

Website

https://calgarydrugtreatmentcourt.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2007

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Calgary Drug Treatment Court operates an evidence-based, pre-sentence therapeutic court program for drug-addicted offenders in Alberta, integrating judicial supervision with intensive addiction treatment and a network of 85+ community service partners.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Therapeutic Justice Services

NAICS

Correctional Institutions (922140), Parole Offices and Probation Offices (922150), Outpatient Mental Health and Substance Abuse Centers (621420), Legal Services (5411)

SIC

Services-Health Services (8000), Services-Legal Services (8111)

akta.pro industry

PRIMARYBPAIAFAG

Specialty & Problem-Solving Courts (Drug, Mental Health, Veterans, Family)

Business & Public Services/Public Sector & Government Administration/Justice System (Courts, Prosecution & Corrections)

SECONDARYHLAFACAM

Forensic & Correctional Behavioral Health Services

Healthcare & Life Sciences/Healthcare Providers & Systems/Behavioral Health & Substance Use Treatment

SECONDARYBPAKANAH

Reentry, Rehabilitation & Reintegration Programs (Education, Vocational, Case Management)

Business & Public Services/Security & Investigations Services/Corrections, Detention & Prisoner Transport Services

SECONDARYBPAIAFAE

Community Corrections (Probation, Parole & Reentry)

Business & Public Services/Public Sector & Government Administration/Justice System (Courts, Prosecution & Corrections)

Keywords

• Drug treatment court
• Therapeutic justice programs
• Addiction treatment services
• Court-supervised rehabilitation
• Substance use disorder programs

Headquarters

HQ city

Calgary

HQ country

Canada

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Supply Chain, Others

Revenue model

1. Government Funding: Primary funding from government sources including the Government of Alberta and Government of Canada. The Alberta Government committed $20 million over four years (2019) to create Canada's first Provincial Drug Treatment Court Program.
2. Charitable Donations: The organization accepts charitable donations from individuals and organizations. CRA Charity Registration Number 803850916RR0001. Donations support treatment services, behavioral change programs, employment support, and participant wellness.
3. Foundation Support: Funding support from foundations including the Calgary Foundation and Shaw Foundation.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Calgary Drug Treatment Court operates a pre-sentence justice alternative for adults facing criminal charges driven by drug addiction, integrating judicial supervision with intensive evidence-based addiction treatment. The 5-stage program combines Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Dialectical Behavioral Therapy, frequent drug testing, sanctions and rewards, and case processing under court authority, delivered through specialized tracks for Indigenous, women, and employment-focused participants.

Product overview

The Calgary Drug Treatment Court (CDTC) operates as a single unified therapeutic court program rather than a platform with modular products. The core program is an evidence-based 5-stage intervention (Crown Eligibility Review, Applicant Observes DTC, Treatment Eligibility Review, and Decision Making) that combines judicial supervision with intensive drug addiction treatment. CDTC delivers its program through specialized tracks for distinct populations including an Indigenous/Frist Nations Program and a Women's Program, along with supplementary services such as an Employment Program and Day Program. The program integrates concepts of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and Dialectic Behavioral Therapy, informed by social learning theory, behavior theory, and trauma-informed practice. CDTC partners with over 85 community agencies to provide the range of services participants need, including detox, residential treatment, mental health services, housing, and family/parenting support.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• CDTC Program Overview An evidence-based therapeutic court program integrating court intervention and drug treatment services for addicted offenders facing drug-driven criminal charges, offering a pre-sentence justice alternative.
• Indigenous Program Culturally-responsive drug treatment court track designed for Indigenous and First Nations participants, incorporating cultural connection and traditional healing approaches alongside standard program requirements.
• Women's Program Specialized drug treatment court track addressing the unique needs of women, including parenting support, trauma-informed care, and gender-specific treatment services.
• Employment Program Vocational support services helping participants develop employment skills, obtain jobs, and achieve financial stability as part of their recovery and reintegration into the community.
• Day Program Intensive daytime treatment programming providing structured addiction treatment, therapy, and skill-building activities for participants in the drug treatment court program.

Quantifiable outcome

• 70% crime-free after program completion (Edmonton and Calgary combined)
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers2 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

22 partnerships are on record, tiered core and supporting.

• Alpha House DetoxcoreOthersDetox services partner providing substance withdrawal support for CDTC participants.
• Calgary Dream Centre Social DetoxcoreOthersSocial detox services partner supporting participant detoxification.
• Foothills DetoxcoreOthersProvincial detox services through Alberta Health Services.
• AHS Opioid Dependency Program (ODP)coreOthersMedication-based treatment program for opioid addiction within Alberta Health Services.
• AHS Rapid Access Addictions Medicine (RAAM)coreOthersQuick access to addiction medicine services for CDTC participants.
• Simon House Recovery CentrecoreOthersResidential addiction treatment program; mentioned in participant success story (Jamie Martin was accepted into Simon House).
• Alcove Addiction Recovery for WomencoreOthersSpecialized residential addiction treatment for women participants.
• Aventa Addiction Treatment for WomencoreOthersWomen's specific addiction treatment services.
• Fresh Start Recovery CentrecoreOthersResidential recovery services for program participants.
• Legal Aid AlbertacoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerProvides duty counsel (Ed Washington, Cailey Severson, Taylor Greer) to help applicants complete forms and navigate the legal process. Essential partner for participant intake.
• Public Prosecution Service of Canada - Alberta RegioncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFederal Crown prosecution service (Calgary Office) working directly with CDTC. Janna Watts, Crown Counsel is the key contact.
• Government of Alberta, Alberta JusticecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerProvincial Crown prosecutors office (Calgary) working with CDTC. Jacqueline B. Abbott, Crown Prosecutor is the key contact.
• Alberta Health ServicescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerProvincial health authority providing multiple services including Adult Addictions Services, Corrections Transition Team, Injectable Opioid Agonist Therapy Program, and various mental health services.
• CUPS Health CentresupportingOthersHealth services for participants including primary care.
• Calgary Drop-in CentresupportingOthersShelter and housing services for participants.
• Pathways to Housing (The Alex)supportingOthersHousing program helping participants find stable accommodation.
• Smart RecoverysupportingOthersRecovery support meetings for participants.
• Alcoholics Anonymous (AA)supportingOthers12-step recovery support meetings for participants.
• Narcotics Anonymous (NA)supportingOthersRecovery support meetings for participants.
• Calgary Food BanksupportingOthersBasic needs support for participants.
• Alberta WorkssupportingOthersIncome support and employment services for participants.
• MomentumsupportingOthersEmployment and financial literacy services helping participants gain employment.

Scale indicators9 records

Recent moves9 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Emerging players

• John Howard Society of Alberta: Alberta-based criminal justice organization providing rehabilitation, housing, and reintegration services for justice-involved individuals. Comparable as a community-based provider serving overlapping client populations, including through partnerships with drug treatment courts.

Direct peers

• Vancouver Drug Treatment Court: British Columbia's drug treatment court operating at the Downtown Community Court with integrated health, housing, and treatment services. Highly comparable model serving an urban drug-addicted offender population.
• Toronto Drug Treatment Court: Canada's first drug treatment court (1998), offering the same pre-sentence therapeutic court model for drug-addicted offenders in Ontario. Closest comparable Canadian jurisdiction with mature operations and outcome reporting.
• Lethbridge Drug Treatment Court: Opened November 2020 as Alberta's third drug treatment court under the same provincial framework. Directly comparable model serving rural and remote communities.
• Miami-Dade County Drug Court: Pioneer U.S. drug court (1989) often cited as the international gold standard for adult drug court practice. Comparable as a benchmark therapeutic court that informed Alberta's CDTC framework.
• Edmonton Drug Treatment Court: Alberta's first drug treatment court (est. 2005), operating under the same provincial framework as CDTC. Directly comparable therapeutic court model, identical funding streams, and co-participant in the capacity-doubling expansion from 20 to 40 participants per year.

Broad incumbents

• Canadian Centre on Substance Use and Addiction: National body providing evidence-based research, policy guidance, and standards on substance use in Canada. Comparable as a policy and research counterpart shaping the broader drug treatment court ecosystem.
• Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH): Canada's largest mental health and addiction teaching hospital, providing clinical services and research that inform therapeutic court models. Comparable as a higher-acuity treatment provider and research institution overlapping with CDTC's evidence base.
• Alberta Health Services - Addictions and Mental Health: Provincial health authority providing detox, opioid dependency treatment, RAAM clinics, and mental health services referenced as core CDTC partners. Comparable as the broader public addiction treatment system in which CDTC operates.
• National Association of Drug Court Professionals: U.S.-based umbrella organization representing over 4,000 drug courts and responsible for the Adult Drug Court Best Practice Standards. Comparable as the field's standards-setting body and convener for therapeutic court professionals globally.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/calgary-drug-treatment-court

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Calgary Drug Treatment Court