Legal experts in Kamloops are hoping to launch a Kamloops Community Justice Court.

An application is being made to the province’s Judicial Review Committee to open the community court, which would deal with petty crimes fuelled by mental health and addiction issues.

The application is being sought by a law professor at Thompson Rivers University, one local lawyer and a local forensic psychiatrist.

Councillor Bill Sarai tells NL News it’s his understanding this would be an annex of the court, and would ensure those issues aren’t tying up provincial court rooms.

“I know the petty crime is not big-ticket items in the courtroom, it takes up a lot of time. An hour of court time is big cost, and with the sheriffs. I understand all of that,” he says.

“But I also understand the people who work for a living, that if something gets stolen, a day’s wage is gone for that item that they’re not going to get back.”

The community court would allow Interior Health and the Crown to help offenders get their lives back on track, while holding offenders accountable.

Sarai says the courts treat petty crimes and property crimes like a health issue, but the health authority treats those instances like crime. He says RCMP officers are stretched thin and it can be difficult to respond to property crimes, which he says regularly result in tremendous losses for residents and businesses.

He says rebranding the city’s bylaw department to a “Community Services Division,” which will happen on Jan. 1, will help relieve pressure from RCMP and lead to a more productive response to social issues. And he says adding a Community Justice Court would “definitely” lead to better outcomes for victims and offenders of crimes that can be linked to social issues.,