scholarly journals Alberta not criminally responsible project: Rates of persons found NCRMD and absolute discharges in Alberta following the Not Criminally Responsible Reform Act

2021 ◽  
Vol 6 (3) ◽  
pp. 121-126
Author(s):  
Andrew M. Haag ◽  
Katelyn Wonsiak ◽  
David Tyler Dunford

In 2014, then-Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper passed the Not Criminally Responsible Reform Act into law, which gave Canadian courts and Review Boards new powers to protect the public from particularly dangerous mentally ill offenders. The most controversial change to the law included the designation of the High-Risk Accused. Once designated by the courts as a High-Risk Accused, that individual is barred from leaving a forensic hospital except for urgent medical reasons. In this article, the authors assess the impact of the Not Criminally Responsible Reform Act on the forensic mental health system in Alberta, Canada. The findings indicate that the legislation did not lead to any meaningful changes in the Alberta forensic mental health system in terms of absolute discharges and incoming persons found not criminally responsible.

2015 ◽  
Vol 20 (58) ◽  
pp. 113-120
Author(s):  
Armando Mayo Castro ◽  
Beatriz Pérez Sánchez ◽  
Andrés Guzmán Sala

RESUMEN: Objetivo: Definir un modelo de promoción de la cultura en el bienestar mental como parte importante de la salud integral, identificando el impacto de las patologías y de las comorbilidades que generan incidencia en patologías crónico degenerativas y oncológicas. Prevenir y planear para no incurrir en costos innecesarios. Material y método: Los métodos que se utilizaron fueron analítico, crítico y prospectivo. El enfoque fue de finanzas públicas en el sistema de salud mental. Los hallazgos se sustentan en la rigurosidad propia de la información estadística conocida, en el contrastar de la realidad y en el ejercicio creativo de la interpretación que proporciona la revisión documental seria. Resultados: Vincular las acciones de promoción, la creación de una cultura de salud mental y la importancia de las finanzas públicas para el desarrollo del modelo. La planeación y la prevención como herramientas de ahorro y de cuidar la inversión público- privada. Conclusiones: El modelo contiene cinco acciones: Relacionarse con las personas de tu alrededor, salir de paseo, ser curioso, continuar aprendiendo y dar con generosidad; lo que se obtendrá es: presupuestar financieramente y con mejor estrategia, el sistema de salud mental en nuestro entorno. ABSTRACT: Objective: Define a model of culture in promoting mental well-being as an important part of overall health, identifying the impact of diseases and comorbidities that generate impact on chronic degenerative diseases and cancer. Material and method: The methods used were analytical, critical and prospective. The focus was on public finances in the mental health system. The findings are based on the very rigor of statistical information known, in contrast reality and the creative exercise of interpretation that provides serious documentary review. Results: Link promotion actions , creating a culture of mental health and the importance of public finance for the development of the model. Planning tools and prevention as savings and care for the public- private investment. Conclusions: The model contains five parts: Interacting with people around you, go for a walk, be curious, keep learning and give generously; what you get is: financially and better budgeting strategy, the mental health system in our environment.


2021 ◽  
pp. 070674372110231
Author(s):  
Gary Chaimowitz ◽  
Heather Moulden ◽  
Casey Upfold ◽  
Katelyn Mullally ◽  
Mini Mamak

Objective: The purpose of this study was to increase the understanding of the Canadian forensic psychiatry system by providing a population-based overview of the Ontario forensic mental health system. Methods: Data were collected on 1,240 accused adults who were subject to the jurisdiction of the Ontario Review Board (ORB) between 2014 and 2015. Archival data were retrieved from annual ORB hearing hospital reports for accused supervised by all nine adult forensic psychiatry facilities across Ontario. Results: The sample included not criminally responsible (NCR; 91.6%) and unfit to stand trial (UST; 8.4%) accused. The majority of the sample was male (85.7%), single (70.1%), unemployed (63.6%), with a high school education (48.8%). Most were on a detention order (78.5%) and almost half were living in the community at the time of the report (48.8%). The majority had prior contact with psychiatric services (83.1%) and/or the criminal justice system (70.6%) before entering the forensic system. A history of elopement (31.5%) and inpatient aggression was high (60.6%). Most had a psychotic spectrum disorder (81.6%) and over half had a substance use disorder (57.2%) in the reporting year. A range of index offences was observed (69.9% violent, 20.3% general, 9.8% sexual), and the majority of the sample (61.0%) had an index offence that resulted in no injury or a minor injury to the victim. Conclusion: The Canadian forensic psychiatry system is comprised of a unique subset of justice-involved individuals. This study provides a detailed examination of accused who are subject to the jurisdiction of the ORB and provides key insight into risk factors associated with offending behaviour in this population. The results of this study will provide a framework for future studies examining the association between mental disorder and violence and the treatment trajectories for those in the forensic psychiatry system.


Author(s):  
Oladipo Adeolu Sowunmi ◽  
Omokehinde Olubunmi Fakorede ◽  
Adegboyega Ogunwale

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