Mental disorder, substance use and criminal justice contact

Brenda Locke Minister of State for Mental Health and Addiction Services Mental Disorder, Substance Use and Criminal Justice Contact [ 1 ] Summary Report | March 2005 Background In May 2003, the Minister of State for Mental Health brought together representatives from Ministry of Health Services (MOHS), Ministry of Children and Family Development (MCFD), Ministry of Attorney General (MAG) and the M [...] The review begins with a discussion of research on the prevalence of mental disorders in the justice system, followed by a discussion of factors that influence involvement with the justice system and research on service utilisation patterns for people with mental illness. [...] The results of the literature review show the prevalence rates of a wide variety of mental disorders are disproportionately high in the criminal justice system. [...] Research confirms that a relatively poor job is done identifying the needs of offenders with mental disorders prior to the time they enter the justice system; and deficiencies in the delivery of justice and health services results in escalating costs. [...] Currently the Alberta Mental Health Board and the Mental Health and Justice Deputies Committee are collaborating on a provincial diversion framework to “ensure that whenever appropriate, adults and adolescents with mental illness who are in conflict with the law receive appropriate care, support and treatment from mental health, social and support services, thereby reducing reliance on the crimina