Mental Health and Criminal Justice System The deinstitutionalization movement in the 1960s directly impacted the criminal justice system in Canada. The John Howard Society of Ontario (JHS) (2015) argues that the criminal justice system became a repository for those with mental health concerns because they found themselves in the community without adequate support and resources. Some common obstacles in the community include stigma, housing, employment, substance use as a means to self-medicate, and limited mental health services. As a result, there is an overrepresentation of these individuals in the criminal justice system and they experience disproportionate police contact and higher levels of arrest, criminal charges, and custody (JHS,
…show more content…
The provincial government is responsible for institutions for individuals who have been sentenced to less than two years in jail, or who are on remand (JHS, 2015). Remand is the term for people who have not been sentenced yet, but who are in custody because they are awaiting a bail hearing, trial, or sentencing and could not be released into the community in the interim for various reasons (JHS, 2015). According to the JHS (2015), 60% of people in provincial jails are on …show more content…
Federally sentenced women are "... among the fastest growing sub-populations in federal corrections today" (Sapers & Zinger, 2014, p. 45). The dilemma that exists between protecting society or protecting individuals is increasingly apparent with this population due to their high needs and increasing vulnerability. Females in the federal correctional system have disproportionately higher levels of self harm (Borrill, Snow, Medlicott, Teers, & Patton, 2005). Furthermore, Sapers and Zinger (2014) indicate that 50% of these women have histories of self harming behaviour, over 50% of them struggle with addictions. 85% have experienced physical abuse, and 68% have experienced sexual abuse. Compared to male offenders, they enter the system with more previous hospitalizations for mental health concerns (Sapers & Zinger, 2014). The significant over-representation of female offenders with histories of self-harm and previous hospitalizations demonstrates that this population is in significant need of protection and support while in
The provincial government is responsible for institutions for individuals who have been sentenced to less than two years in jail, or who are on remand (JHS, 2015). Remand is the term for people who have not been sentenced yet, but who are in custody because they are awaiting a bail hearing, trial, or sentencing and could not be released into the community in the interim for various reasons (JHS, 2015). According to the JHS (2015), 60% of people in provincial jails are on …show more content…
Federally sentenced women are "... among the fastest growing sub-populations in federal corrections today" (Sapers & Zinger, 2014, p. 45). The dilemma that exists between protecting society or protecting individuals is increasingly apparent with this population due to their high needs and increasing vulnerability. Females in the federal correctional system have disproportionately higher levels of self harm (Borrill, Snow, Medlicott, Teers, & Patton, 2005). Furthermore, Sapers and Zinger (2014) indicate that 50% of these women have histories of self harming behaviour, over 50% of them struggle with addictions. 85% have experienced physical abuse, and 68% have experienced sexual abuse. Compared to male offenders, they enter the system with more previous hospitalizations for mental health concerns (Sapers & Zinger, 2014). The significant over-representation of female offenders with histories of self-harm and previous hospitalizations demonstrates that this population is in significant need of protection and support while in