Justice Program Services

Court Support Services supports individuals diagnosed with a serious mental illness or suspected mental illness who have adult criminal charges pending in the Windsor Essex Court system. The individuals may be diverted from the court system and instead connected to mental health and community support services.

The program also provides consultations for court service users who do not qualify for diversion, linking them to services to facilitate bail or to assist with sentencing. In addition, the program develops service care plans, offers support to families, and provides consultation on cases referred for disposition.

The purpose of Mental Health Court Support is to connect people with mental health and addictions services, create community linkages to prevent further involvement with the criminal justice system.

Eligibility
Individuals who are 18 years of age and older, with a mental illness (diagnosis not required), and accused of a criminal offence as an adult; have or had previous justice problems directly related to mental health and/or addictions; and pose no clear and serious threat to themselves or others.

Court matters are to be held within the Windsor Essex County court system therefore charges are those that have occurred within Windsor Essex County, matters being presented outside of Windsor Essex County will have to be referred to services in that geographical area. We acknowledge that court supports may not exist in that area however we are unable to support matters outside of our catchment area.

How To Access The Service
Participation in the program is voluntary and anyone may make a referral, including accused persons, family and/or loved ones, service providers, lawyers, police and the courts.

Please contact CMHA Coordinated Access for information at 519-255-9940 ext 249, or please complete and submit the attached referral form: Download our referral form here.

Resources
672 Court Brochure

The Release From Custody program was established to provide voluntary, short-term transitional case management support to persons with mental health and addictions issues who are leaving detention from a provincial correctional institution. This function is intended to support successful reintegration by supporting transition and access to community mental health and addictions services. The intended program outcomes are three-fold:

• to facilitate transition into community,
• to reintegrate incarcerated individuals with mental health and addictions issues into the community living with appropriate supports to help alleviate recidivism, and
• to establish “networks” of support for previously incarcerated individuals in the receiving community.

Eligibility
Person must have a mental illness. A formal mental health diagnosis preferred but not necessary, however a history of mental health concerns prior to incarceration must be present.

Completed referral with signed consents to work with the RFC team. RFC program is voluntary, therefore individuals referred to the program must show a willingness to work with the RFC team on goals related to their reintegration back into the community.

Individuals in custody have begun discussion regarding release. Release estimated within the next 4 months.

Individuals who have been released from custody in the last 30 days.

How To Access The Service
Referrals for this program are accepted by an Ontario Detention Centre, i.e.: Southwest Detention Centre as well as Probation and Parole.

Probation and parole officers may refer clients to RFC services within 30 days of their release, so long as they received expressed consent to do so.

Justice Case Management Services provides intensive, time limited support to individuals living with mental illness who are involved or have had ongoing involvement with the justice system. These individuals are provided with a high level of support that is flexible and individualized, with the goal to improve an individual’s ability to function in the community to increase the likelihood of preventing future involvement with the criminal justice system.

Eligibility
Individuals residing in Windsor and Essex County, over 16 years of age, who have been involved or are at risk of involvement with the criminal justice system.

How To Access The Service
Referrals come from a variety of sources including lawyers, doctors, hospitals, family members, police, other community agencies and individuals themselves.

Please contact CMHA Coordinated Access for information at 519-255-9940 ext 249.

To provide supported subsidized housing for individuals who are homeless or at risk of becoming homeless and who have a mental illness. The program works with private market landlords in the community acting in a liaison capacity to assist with providing access to safe, affordable and stable housing for consumers who are receiving community support services. This program provides:

• Safe affordable access to housing
• Community based private market housing
• Search for affordable housing
• Landlord/tenant resolution and tenancy support
• Supports to maintain housing in the community

Eligibility
Individuals with a mental illness living in Windsor and Essex County over the age of 16 who are involved in intensive case management with CMHA-WECB and/or other appropriate mental health services.

Service Hours

The regular scheduled hours for the services are between 8:30 and 4:30 Monday to Friday. Arrangements will be made to meet individual needs as requested.