The longest running Wellness Court Program in Nova Scotia is the Dartmouth Wellness Court, which launched in 2009 as the Nova Scotia Mental Health Court Program. Since then, Wellness Court Programs have been set up in Port Hawkesbury, Kentville, Amherst, Bridgewater and Truro, with plans to expand to more communities in the future.
Port Hawkesbury Wellness Court
Established in 2012, the Port Hawkesbury Wellness Court includes programming for individuals 18 years or older with a myriad of underlying social, economic and personal issues that contribute to the offending behaviour before the court. This program serves residents of Inverness County, Richmond County, and the Town of Port Hawkesbury, as well as appropriate referrals from across the province.
Eligible participants are required to enter a guilty plea or can be referred to the Port Hawkesbury Wellness Court after a finding of guilt at trial in the Provincial Court. Participants are accepted into the program upon the receipt of a pre-sentence report and a collaborative Wellness Court Team meeting, which includes the presiding judge. The Crown attorney has a veto on an individual's acceptance.
The Port Hawkesbury Wellness Court sits the third Wednesday of every month at the Port Hawkesbury courthouse, 15 Kennedy Street. Judge Laurel Halfpenny MacQuarrie is the presiding judge.
Kentville Wellness Court
Established in 2014, the Kentville Wellness Court consists of the Court Monitored Drug Treatment Program and the Court Monitored Mental Health Program. These programs primarily serve residents of Kings County and West Hants County, including Windsor.
Like other wellness courts, these programs do no operate like a trial court. Participants accepted into the Court Monitored Drug Treatment Program or the Court Monitored Mental Health Program work with a team of professionals who help address the issues contributing to the individual coming into conflict with the law. To be eligible for these programs, an individual must be 18 years of age or older, charged with a criminal offence that occurred in either Kings County or West Hants County, and they must reside in either Kings County or West Hants County.
Court Monitored Drug Treatment Program - Eligible participants must accept responsibility for their criminal actions and have an addiction to cocaine (including crack cocaine), methamphetamines and/or opioids. There must be a connection between the addiction and the alleged criminal offence(s). Participants must plead guilty to their offence(s) and can only be accepted into the program if the Crown attorney consents to their participation.
Court Monitored Mental Health Program - Eligible participants must be diagnosed with a mental illness and there must be a connection between the criminal behaviour and the mental illness. This means that there is a reasonable probability the mental illness played a significant role in the commission of the offence(s). For this program, "mental illness" means a recognized, significant and persistent mental illness such as schizophrenia, mood disorders, bipolar disorder, other psychosis, major depression and co-occurring mental health and substance-related dependency where the mental illness is the primary concern. In most instances, individuals are not required to enter a guilty plea, but they must acknowledge their offence(s). The Crown attorney must also consent to their participation in the program.
The Kentville Wellness Court sits every second Thursday at the Kentville Law Courts, 87 Bridge Street. Judge Angela Caseley is the presiding judge.
Amherst Wellness Court
The Amherst Wellness Court was established in 2016. It includes programming for individuals 18 years or older with mental health and/or substance use disorders. In 2022, the Amherst Wellness Court Program expanded to include a Domestic Violence Court Program. These programs serve residents of Cumberland County.
Amherst Wellness Court - A guilty plea is not required for an individual to be accepted into the program; however, the Crown attorney may seek one in certain cases. Individuals facing impaired driving offences, charges involving domestic violence or charges under the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act (CDSA) are not eligible for the Amherst Wellness Court. Participants are accepted into the program only if the Crown attorney consents. There must be a connection between the mental health or substance use disorder and the alleged criminal offence(s).
Domestic Violence Court Program - Eligible participants must acknowledge the use of violence against a partner or ex-partner and have been charged with a related criminal offence. Participants are accepted into the program only if the Crown attorney consents.
The Amherst Wellness Court and the Domestic Violence Court Program sit the first Thursday of every month at the Amherst courthouse, 16 Church Street. Judge Rosalind Michie is the presiding judge.
Bridgewater Wellness Court
First established in 2019, the Bridgewater Wellness Court began with a Domestic Violence Court Program. In 2021, it expanded to include a Mental Health Court Program and is now in the process of setting up a Drug Court Program. These programs primarily serve residents of Lunenburg County and Queens County.
Domestic Violence Court Program - To be eligible to participate, there must be an agreed statement of facts on the record and in most instances the accused individual must enter a guilty plea to the offence(s). Participants are accepted into the program only if the Crown attorney consents.
Mental Health Court Program - Like the Domestic Violence Court Program, there must be an agreed statement of facts on the record. In some instances, the accused may have to enter a guilty plea to the offence(s). The applicant must have a Tier 3 diagnosis of a significant and persistent mental illness. This program is currently limited to six applications a year. Participants are accepted into the program only if the Crown attorney consents.
The Bridgewater Wellness Court sits the middle Tuesday or Friday of each month at the Bridgewater courthouse, 141 High Street. Judge Catherine Benton is the presiding judge.
Truro Wellness Court
Established in 2019, the Truro Wellness Court includes programming for individuals 18 years or older with mental health and/or substance use disorders directly related to the offence(s) the accused is charged with. The program serves residents of Colchester County, including Shubenacadie.
A guilty plea is not required for an individual to be accepted into the program; however, the Crown attorney may seek one in certain cases. Individuals facing charges under the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act (CDSA) are not eligible for the Truro Wellness Court. No formal diagnosis is required to be referred to the program, but one must be revealed at the assessment by the court team's clinical psychologist. Participants are accepted into the program only if the Crown attorney consents.
The Truro Wellness Court also has a domestic violence aspect in conjunction with the Bridges program in Truro. Bridges offers counselling for men, women and children struggling with relationship issues, rebuilding trust, anger, depression, stress, anxiety, parenting, PTSD, as well as many other concerns. The centre specializes in domestic abuse and anger management issues.
The Truro Wellness Court sits one Monday per month at the Truro Provincial Court, 540 Prince Street. Judge Alain Bégin is the presiding judge.