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Support Coordination at Pre & Post Charge
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Support Coordination is provided to individuals at a number of junctures in the criminal justice system. It’s offered on a short-term basis, to assist individuals in implementing an individualized, recovery focused support plan (i.e. Bail Release, Mental Health Diversion, Pre-charge Diversion and Mental Health Court plans) that addresses their needs. This could include:
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Securing housing
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Accessing treatment and/or medical care
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Providing referrals to counselling services and other community supports
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Assisting with education and employment connections
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Developing crisis plans
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Assisting individuals to engage in community activities to enhance their quality of life such as volunteering and social activities
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Supporting and enhancing the individuals’ informal support network (e.g. family, friends, peer support)
- Linking to longer-term supports if needed
The following Support Coordination services provided by Mental Health & Justice Services:
Diversion and Non-Diversion Support Coordination
Support Coordinators connect with individuals to assist them in implementing Mental Health Court Service and Mental Health Diversion plans that are generated by Mental Health Court.
Mental Health Diversion:
Individuals may be eligible for Mental Health Diversion if they meet the following criteria:
· They have a minimal criminal conviction history
· Their mental health struggles are directly or indirectly correlated to the offence
· There is a significant mental health issue generally DSM-IV-TR diagnosis such Schizophrenia, Bipolar Disorder and Major Depressive Disorder (including concurrent disorder and dual diagnosis) which is causing difficulty in many areas of their life.
· The disability is or it is assessed that it will be long-standing
If the individual meets the criteria the Crown can make a referral for Diversion. The individual must:
· Participate voluntarily
· Consent to correspondence with the Crown Attorney’s Office
· Meet regularly with a Support Coordinator during the Diversion period (up to 12 months)
· Follow through with the Diversion plan and abstain from further contact with the law
An individual participating in Diversion may be connected to a Support Coordinator through Canadian Mental Health Association-Grand River Branch or if the individual is accessing services from another mental health agency, their existing supports will be enlisted to provide Diversion support. After 4 to 6 weeks of being accepted into Diversion, their charge is most often stayed. If the individual incurs additional charges during the Diversion period, or does not participate in planning with their Support Coordinator, the original charge may be brought back before the court.
Non-Diversion:
If the individual is not eligible for Diversion for example, due to the nature of their offence or criminal conviction history, the individual may still wish to access mental health support. In this case a Mental Health Court Service Plan, similar to a Diversion plan, is created. Although information regarding their involvement with support does not have to be reported to the Crown Attorney, the individual and/or their legal counsel may choose to report this information to the court after an adjournment period.
Probation Support Coordination
Individuals sentenced to a term of probation in Waterloo Region and who are struggling with mental health issues can access Probation Support Coordination. Referrals are made by probation officers on behalf of the individual. With the support of a Probation Support Coordinator, the individual creates and implements a support plan. The focus of Probation Support Coordination is not enforcement of the probation order but to provide support to the individual. Consultation and mental health information is also provided to probation officers.
Bail Support Coordination
Bail release plans developed by Court Support are implemented with the support of a Bail Support Coordinator.
Pre-Charge Diversion Support Coordination
When police respond to a call in which the individual in conflict with the law “appears” to have mental health needs and may benefit from community based mental health support, they may choose not to charge the individual. Instead police can connect the individual to Pre-charge Diversion Support Coordination for mental health follow up. A Pre-Charge Support Coordinator assists the individual to create a plan to address their immediate needs, such a shelter, food and medical attention as well as factors that may have precipitated the police contact. In some cases the police may contact the Mobile Crisis Team to provide immediate crisis intervention. Once the crisis has been diffused, the Mobile Crisis Team would then connect the individual with Pre-Charge Diversion Support Coordination.