Therapeutic Courts in Canada – A jurisdictional scan of mental health courts and drug treatment courts.

9:30 AM - 10:10 AM

The province of Ontario conducted a jurisdictional scan to identify the common barriers, and challenges of Therapeutic Courts from across Canada. This report also identified some recommendations to optimize successful outcomes. A principal author of the report will discuss some important lessons learned.

Speakers: Susan Reid Counsel Ontario Crown Law Office - Criminal

Trauma-Informed Processes

10:10 AM - 10:50 AM



This presentation focuses on what trauma is, how it affects us, why we should consider it in the courtroom, and what courtroom practices we can implement to help alleviate the ongoing effects of trauma. The prevalence of serious traumatic experiences among our neighbours and fellow community members is alarming, and its consequences can be severe, manifesting in stressful environments like courtrooms. Presenters in this section will walk through direct clinical experiences, personal experiences, and a case study to help illustrate the many sides of trauma. This presentation will conclude with suggestions on how court practitioners can better help case participants cope with trauma and on how to incorporate trauma-informed practices into the courtroom.

Lindsey Price Jackson, Senior Program Manager of Community Justice Initiatives, Centre for Justice Innovation, New York

Kathryn Ford

Director of Clinical Supervision and Child Witness Initiatives

Centre for Justice Innovation, New York

What is Systemic Racism in Canada Like?

10:50 AM - 11:30 AM

Racial inequities can be reflected and inadvertently reproduced in Therapeutic court programs. Lessons can be learned from how systemic racism is manifested in Canadian society

Richard Sharpe

Director

Black Equity Branch

People and Culture Division

Centre for People, Culture and Talent

Treasury Board Secretariat│Ontario Public Service

Traumatic Brain Injury

11:45 AM - 12:25 AM

Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is a serious yet hidden public health issue, often without physical signs of impairment7. Research indicates that TBI is more prevalent among justice-involved populations than in the general population1,9-11. What is TBI? What are the challenges of living with TBI? What are the linkages between TBI and criminal justice involvement? What are the challenges of court-mandated supervision conditions for people with a history of TBI? How might gender shape these challenges?

Speakers:

Dr. Flora I. Matheson,

Research Scientist II MAP Centre for Urban Health Solutions, St. Michael’s Hospital, Unity Health Toronto Associate Professor, Dalla Lana School of Public Health, Centre for Criminology & Sociolegal Studies, Institute of Medical Sciences 

Dr. Arthur McLuhan

Senior Research Associate, MAP Centre for Urban Health Solutions, St. Michael’s Hospital, Unity Health Toronto

Nikoleta Curcin

Research Consultant, MAP Centre for Urban Health Solutions, St. Michael’s Hospital, Unity Health Toronto

The Therapeutic Court System in Saskatchewan

2:00 PM - 2:20 PM



Why does Saskatchewan have a network of Therapeutic Courts? How are these courts organized and administered? Barriers, Challenges, Successes and best practice recommendations

Judge Murray Hinds, Provincial Court of Saskatchewan

Ottawa Drug Treatment Court

2:20 PM - 2:40 PM



The “why, the how and impacts” of the Ottawa Drug Treatment Court. Barriers, Challenges, Successes and best practice recommendations.

Marie L. Dufort

Assistant Crown Attorney

Ottawa Crown Attorney's Office

St John's Drug Treatment Court

2:40 PM - 3:00 PM

The “why, the how and impacts” of the St John's Drug Treatment Court. Barriers, Challenges, Successes and best practice recommendations.

Judge D. Orr

Provincial Court of Newfoundland

Victoria Integrated Court

3:15 PM - 3:35 PM

The “why, the how and impacts” of the Victoria Integrated Court. Barriers, Challenges, Successes and best practice recommendations.

Associate Chief Judge Sue Wishart

Provincial Court of British Columbia

Vancouver Drug Treatment Court

3:35 PM - 3:55 PM

The “why, the how and impacts” of the Vancouver Drug Treatment Court. Barriers, Challenges, Successes and best practice recommendations.

Jayce Allen

Crown Counsel

Drug Treatment Court of Vancouver

Downtown Vancouver Community Court

3:55 PM - 4:15 PM



The “why, the how and impacts” of the Downtown Vancouver Community Court. Barriers, Challenges, Successes and best practice recommendations.

Sharon Lockhart

Director of Integrated Programs

Downtown Community Court (DCC)

Drug Treatment Court of Vancouver (DTCV)

Vancouver Integrated Supervision Unit (VISU)

Impacts of Cannabis on Drug Treatment Court Programs in Ontario

Possession of cannabis for personal use is decriminalized in Canada. Findings from a study on cannabis use by Drug Treatment Court program participants will be discussed by experienced drug policy practitioners and a research team member with lived experience of DTC program participation.

Candace Vena, M.A. (moderator)

Director of Justice Policy

Canadian Mental Health Association, Ontario

Canadian Mental Health Association, Ontario

Sudha Sabanadesan

Policy Analyst (Substance Use Lead)

Canadian Mental Health Association Ontario

Nikoleta Curcin

Research Consultant

Therapeutic Court System in Nova Scotia

Nova Scotia has a coordinated system of Treatment and Therapeutic Courts. An experienced practitioner discusses the rationale, operation and impacts of this system.

Chief Judge Pamela Williams

Provincial Court of Nova Scotia

Winnipeg Drug Treatment Court

The “why, the how and impacts” of the Winnipeg Drug Treatment Court. Barriers, Challenges, Successes and best practice recommendations.

Judge Tracey M. Lord

Associate Chief Judge

Provincial Court of Manitoba

Yukon Domestic Violence Court

The “why, the how and impacts” of the Yukon Domestic Violence Court. Barriers, Challenges, Successes and best practice recommendations.

May Stewart

Director of Justice,

Liard Government

Joanne Greene

Manager,

Justice Wellness Centre

Kelly Allen

In-house clinical counsellor

Justice Wellness Centre

Calgary Domestic Violence Court

The “why, the how and impacts” of the Calgary Domestic Violence Court shall be discussed including challenges, successes and best practice recommendations

Maggie Mackillop

Executive Director

Homefront Calgary

Calgary Domestic Violence Court

Justin Dafoe

Director of Advancement

Homefront Calgary

Calgary Domestic Violence Court

Ontario Community Justice Centres

The Ministry of the Attorney General’s Justice Centres bring together justice, health, mental health, addictions, employment, education and social services under one roof to address the root causes of crime, break the cycle of offending and improve public safety and community wellbeing.

This presentation gives a ‘behind the scenes’ look at how the Justice Centre model was developed and examines various components that are critical to the success and impacts of community courts but frequently get overlooked including the mechanics of the Justice Centre participatory design process; the importance of inter-governmental partnership to promote systems transformation; the synergies created by community hubs to harness place-based multi-sector collaboration; and the significance of Indigenous-led evaluation methodologies and the importance of re-thinking notions of success that prioritize individualized healing and community well-being.

Dayna Arron, Executive Director, Justice Centres, Office of the Assistant Deputy Minister–Criminal Law, Ministry of the Attorney General Ontario

Holly Loubert, Crown Counsel, Justice Centres, Office of the Assistant Deputy Minister–Criminal Law, Ministry of the Attorney General Ontario

Scott McKean

Manager of SafeTO Community Safety and Well-Being Plan

The City of Toronto & Embedded Justice Centres Strategic Community Lead

Justice Centres

Office of the Assistant Deputy Minister–Criminal Law

Ministry of the Attorney General Ontario

Steve Cordes,

Chief Executive Officer,

Youth Opportunities Unlimited

Kylee Swift

Lead for Operations and Sustainability

Reciprocal Consulting

Bail – Homelessness, Addiction and Mental Illness

Homelessness, addiction and Mental Illness can impact whether a person shall be detained or released from custody pending the resolution of charges. Experienced legal experts discuss applicable substantive law and practical issues.

Her Worship Karen Valentine

Justice of the Peace

Ontario Court of Justice

Aspasia Papatheodorou

Duty Counsel

Legal Aid Ontario

Youth Therapeutic Court Programs

The general principles guiding the structure and implementation of some youth programs are discussed by an experienced legal practitioner.

Miriam Henry

Crown Counsel

Crown Law Office

Ministry of Attorney General Ontario

Mike Brooks

Senior Policy and Program Coordinator

Manager

Justice Centres

Ministry of the Attorney General Ontario

Toronto Mental Health Court

The “why, the how and impacts” of the Toronto Mental Health Court shall be discussed including challenges, successes and best practice recommendations.

Daniel Brandes

Assistant Crown Attorney

Mental Health Court Old City Hall

Saint John Mental Health Court

The “why, the how and impacts” of the Saint John Mental Health Court shall be discussed including challenges, successes and best practice recommendations

Judge Andrew Palmer

Provincial Court of New Brunswick

Natasha Meier

Crown Prosecutor

Public Prosecutions

New Brunswick

Ms. Rebekah Logan

Crown Prosecutor

Public Prosecutions

New Brunswick

London Adult Therapeutic Court

The “why, the how and impacts” of the London Adult Therapeutic Court shall be discussed including challenges, successes and best practice recommendations

Charles Yih

Assistant Crown Attorney

London Adult Therapeutic Court

Ministry of Attorney General

Ontario

Dr. Ajay Prakash,

Interim Medical Director

Forensic psychiatrist

London Adult Therapeutic Court

Success Factors for Drug Treatment Courts - a DTC Judge and DTC Alum's Perspective

A drug treatment court graduate and the judge who presided in the Toronto Drug Treatment Court during her tenure share insights on some success factors.

Justice Steven Clark

Ontario Court of Justice

Nikoleta Curcin

Research Consultant

Toronto Drug Treatment Court Graduate

Persons with Lived Experiences Roundtable

Persons with lived experience and drug treatment court alumni identify the barriers, challenges, successes and best practice recommendations on how Drug Treatment Courts can improve. In this panel, participants have their say on how to optimize program results.

Judie Birns

Manager

Drug Treatment Court of Regina

Meagan Jasper

Drug Treatment Court Alum

Kerry Gladue

Drug Treatment Court Alum

Nikoleta Curcin

Drug Treatment Court Alum

Melissa Duck

Drug Treatment Court Alum

Toronto Drug Treatment Court

The “why, the how and impacts” of the Toronto Drug Treatment Court shall be discussed including barriers, challenges, successes and best practice recommendations

Robin Cuff, RP

Manager, Acute Care

Centre for Addiction and Mental Health

Jennifer Lofft

Assistant Crown Attorney

Toronto Drug Treatment Court and Mental Health Court

Old City Hal

Yukon Community Wellness Court

The Yukon Community Wellness Court (CWC) is an innovative therapeutic court. A multidisciplinary and coordinated team of professionals and community supports work with participants to develop a holistic and culturally relevant wellness plan. The plan is aimed at tackling the root causes of their criminal behaviour. The objective is to reduce criminal recidivism and enhance the holistic rehabilitation of the individual.

The CWC is a collaborative justice and treatment partnership which aims to help build safer Yukon communities. An experienced judicial practitioner discusses the How, the Why and the Impacts of this innovative justice and treatment partnership.

Judge Karen Ruddy

Territorial Court of the Yukon

Whitehorse, YK