Searching for Justice And Mental Health Programs

Provides services and support to individuals who are involved with the judicial system and would benefit from community or hospital based mental health services as an alternative to incarceration

Court support services are offered based on client need and can include:

• Accessing and retaining legal representation
• Assistance with bail release
• Case management services
• Information and referrals for community support services, housing, psychiatric and income supports
• Recommendations to the court at time of sentencing on behalf of individual

Empowers youth in conflict with the law to take responsibility for themselves and their behaviour, and teaches skills that will assist them in making more thoughtful, responsible decisions in the future

Provides a variety of individual and group programs, including:

• Anger management
• Family counselling
• Gender specific programs
• Psychological assessment and consultations
• Skill development
• Support for referrals to specialized treatment
• Victim awareness

Acts as an alternative post-charge diversion program that offers community-based, culturally inclusive support services for Indigenous people involved with the criminal justice system

Community Council Model:

• Offers a Community Justice Circle with Council members
• Provides an opportunity for the community member to enter into a mutually agreed Medicine Wheel Healing Plan which will be taken into consideration by the Judge upon sentencing
• Elders, Band officials, victims and community service providers may attend and provide insight to the community member during the Council process

Some typical Healing Plans may include, but are not limited to:

• Volunteer hours at cultural events, such as Pow Wow
• Healing ceremonies such as sweat lodges and sacred pipe ceremonies
• Some form of restitution as recommended by Elders and community members
• Educational sessions regarding historical trauma, emotional triggers etc
• Addictions assessment, treatment and follow-up if needed

Also provides:

• Mediation between the victim and offender to allow each party to be seen, heard and believed in order to repair the harm done to all who were affected

Provides assistance in accessing health services to individuals with mental illness, developmental challenge, acquired brain injury or a dual diagnosis who are involved with the criminal justice system

• Focuses on providing resources and support to prevent repeated offences
• Provides a website list of accepted offences to qualify for program

Court support services are offered based on client need and include:

• Accessing and retaining legal representation
• Assistance with bail release
• Case management services
• Information and referrals for community support services, housing, psychiatric and income supports
• Recommendations to the court at time of sentencing on behalf of individual
• Screening for eligibility to the Kenora Mental Health Court

NOTE: Serious offenders are not eligible for program but court diversion worker will provide support

LOCAL CMHA BRANCH SERVICES DURING COVID-19

CMHA branches are open but many are offering alternative service delivery at this time
Service delivery may be provided:

• in person
• by phone

or in the following virtual ways:

• PCVC - Personal computer video conferencing
• OTN - Ontario Telemedicine Network
• ZOOM - Video/web conferencing platform

Please note: CMHA branch offerings are subject to change in response to the ongoing developments of COVID-19. The website below will reflect the most accurate and current information.

Follow this link to determine how service delivery is being provided by choosing the appropriate CMHA location from the website's drop down list.

Aims to reduces probability of contact with the legal system for those living with a mental illness or addiction

Provides case management services which include:

Illness Stabilization

• Intake and needs assessments
• Psychiatric assessments
• Education about mental health and addictions factors
• Referrals to treatment programs

Life Skills

• Teaches development of life skills for independence and healthier lifestyle
• Focus is on money management, problem-solving, employment, nutrition and personal care

Building Support Systems

• Encourages building family and social supports
• Promotes using community resources and traditional healing methods
• Offers family counseling
• Provides referrals to resources outside community

Restorative Justice

• Gives the individual opportunity to take responsibility for their behaviour
• Helps them to understand the impact of their behaviour and to repair the harm done to victims

Empowers youth in conflict with the law to take responsibility for themselves and their behaviour, and teaches skills that will assist them in making more thoughtful, responsible decisions in the future

Provides a variety of individual and group programs, including:

• Anger management
• Family counselling
• Gender specific programs
• Psychological assessment and consultations
• Skill development
• Support for referrals to specialized treatment
• Victim awareness

• Mandated to provide Young Offender Services under the Child and Family Services Act and the Youth Criminal Justice Act
• Offers programs and services that are designed to address youth needs that are directly linked to continued criminal behaviour
• Supports and challenges youth to assume responsibility for personal behaviour and to bring about change in thinking patterns that may lead to further criminal involvement
• Administers several residential facilities/detention centres

• Operates a non-residential community based program that is an alternative to custody
• Provides structured and closely supervised programming to address risk and need factors of youth who are in conflict with the law

Delivers individual and group programming including the following:

• Anger management
• Cognitive skills
• Cultural arts
• Grief and loss
• Healthy sexuality
• Life skills
• Offending behaviour
• Parental support
• Peer relations
• Recreation/Leisure activities
• Social Skills
• Substance abuse awareness
• Victim awareness

Offers alternative to prosecution through community-based sanctions for adults who have been charged with minor offences

• Serves as an alternative justice program in place of the regular court system
• Allows each party to tell their story of how the crime involved and affected them
• Operates a voluntary pre and post charge diversion program for youth
• Prioritizes offender accountability, the needs of the victims, and community wellness and healing

NOTE: Offenders who plead innocent must remain in the regular court system

Services are provided in 3 areas:

Section 34 Assessments

• Provides mental health assessments that are ordered by the Court and provide in-depth information regarding a youth's family, community, psychological and mental health needs in order to assist the Court in determining appropriate interventions

Mental Health Consultations Services

• Provided to youth who are involved with Creighton Youth Services, Kairos, and/or Probation, and may also assist Youth Justice Service Providers in developing an appropriate intervention plan for a youth

Sexual Health and Relapse Prevention Program (SHARP)

• Provides an intensive treatment program for youth who have been charged and convicted of committing a sexual offence

​​LOCAL CMHA BRANCH SERVICES DURING COVID-19

CMHA branches are open but many are offering alternative service delivery at this time
Service delivery may be provided:

• in person
• by phone

or in the following virtual ways:

• PCVC - Personal computer video conferencing
• OTN - Ontario Telemedicine Network
• ZOOM - Video/web conferencing platform

Please note: CMHA branch offerings are subject to change in response to the ongoing developments of COVID-19. The website below will reflect the most accurate and current information.

Follow this link to determine how service delivery is being provided by choosing the appropriate CMHA location from the website's drop down list.

• Operate a voluntary, administrative court procedure for individuals who are involved in the court system as a result of a mental health crisis
• Provides consultation to the Crown
• Supports and encourages the client's growth by creating a community based diversion plan
• works directly with individuals and links them to mental health services in the community
• Diversion plans normally last for six months and when successfully completed, can result in a withdrawal of the original charges