Mental Health & Justice Program

Did You Know?

5% of police dispatches or encounters involve “Emotionally Disturbed Persons” and 40% of people with mental illness have been arrested at least once in their lifetime.

Source: Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH)

We Can Help

Margaret’s helps individuals with mental health challenges find support while they are incarcerated and/or as they leave the criminal justice system each year.

We Provide Support & Advocacy

The justice system can be the first point of contact and opportunity of access to support for those experiencing mental health illness. We know that any length of time in custody may aggravate pre-existing mental health conditions. This can harm recovery and prevent a successful transition back into the community.

Margaret’s Mental Health and Justice Program offers intensive individual assistance and advocacy for those experiencing mental health issues and who are accused of committing low-risk offences.

Margaret’s provides support in the areas of:

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Mental Health Diversion – offering court/jail diversion services to clients with mental health illness who are at risk of coming into contact with the criminal justice system (pre-diversion); or clients charged with low-risk offences (diversion).

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Court Diversion – connecting clients with community service providers to address their mental health concerns, instead of going through the court process.

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Release from Custody Planning – helping clients transition back into their home communities after being released.

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Housing – providing clients with a possibility of short and long-term supportive housing, and programming around life skills, personal growth, and recovery.

Court Support

Eligibility & Criteria

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Age 16+

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Living with severe and persistent mental illness

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Charged with an offence

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Require support navigating the criminal justice system

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Released from Custody Planning

Court Release Planning

Eligibility & Criteria

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Age 16+

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Living with chronic and persistent mental illness

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Incarcerated and request assistance in navigating services upon release

Mental Health Pre-Diversion

Eligibility & Criteria

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Age 16+

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Do not have a prior criminal record

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Open to pre-diversion services

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Living with severe mental health challenges with little or no formal support

Mental Health Diversion

Eligibility & Criteria

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Age 18+

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Living with severe and persistent mental illness

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Charged with a low-risk offence

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Open to mental health diversion services

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Approved for diversion by the Crown Attorney

Need Help?

Call Our 24/7 Warm-Line

(416) 463-1481

Connect with us on our channels!

Contact

Office

221 Broadview Avenue Toronto, ON, M4M 2G3

Tel: (416) 463-1481

Fax: (416) 461-4866

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