About The Program
The Mental Health and Justice Prevention Program seeks to reduce the risk of criminal arrest by linking individuals to mental health and other services and, where needed, by providing short-term case management and community support.
The purpose of the Mental Health and Justice Prevention Program is to prevent individuals with mental illness from coming into conflict with the criminal justice system. The service assists individuals with mental illness who are at significant risk of incurring criminal charges by assisting them to access and use mental health and other services and supports.
Who's It For
Adults who are 16+ with a mental illness who is involved, or is at significant risk of involvement, with the criminal justice system.
How IT Works
- Individuals who are eligible to participate are referred by police or probation officers
- Clients are matched with a case manager
- Clients work with their case manager to create a plan for long-term recovery
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Who is eligible for Mental Health and Justice Prevention?
The Prevention Service is available to: Individuals aged 16 or older with a mental health problem (including possible co-occurring disabilities such as concurrent disorder, dual diagnosis and other cognitive disabilities) who can benefit from community mental health services and who are likely to be safely and successfully supported in the community.
In addition, individuals must meet one of the following criteria:
- Be referred by a police or probation officer who identifies the individual as at moderate to high risk of being charged with an offense.
- Currently facing charges or has had criminal charges or was released from jail within the past year.
- Meet 5 or more of the following:
- Two or more prior convictions
- Current substance abuse or significant history of substance abuse
- Poor living arrangement (e.g., homeless or at risk of homelessness or 3 or more address changes in last year)
- Current family conflict
- Experiencing significant financial stress
- Lacks informal social supports
- Subject or 2 or more police mental health calls or apprehensions within past year
- History of violence
- Active symptoms of major mental illness
- Absence of participation in an organized activity: employment, school, volunteer work, leisure activity, mental health or social support programming
What areas are served?
Downtown Toronto Sound Times Support Services
280 Parliament Street
Phone: 416-979-1700 Fax: 416-979-8354
Catchment area is Victoria Park Avenue to Keele Avenue and Eglinton Avenue to the lake.
Canadian Mental Health Association Toronto Branch
1200 Markham Road, Suite 500
Phone: 416-458-9466 Fax: 416-289-6843
Catchment area is Victoria Park Avenue to Port Union Road and Steeles Avenue to the lake.
Metro North COTA Health
1110 Finch Avenue West, Suite 700
Phone: 416-514-1425 Fax: 416-785-9358
Catchment area is Victoria Park Avenue to Keele Avenue and Steeles Avenue to Eglinton Avenue.
Metro West Reconnect
2150 Islington Avenue, Suite 202
Phone: 416-248-2050 Fax: 416-248-6657
Catchment area is Keele Avenue to Etobicoke Creek and Steeles Avenue to the lake.
Contact Us
West Office
700 Lawrence Ave W,
Suite #480 Toronto,
ON M6A 3B4
East Office
1200 Markham Rd,
Suite #500 Scarborough,
ON M1H 3C3
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