CMHA Ottawa recognizes Prisoners’ Justice Day

Aug 10, 2024

On August 10th, CMHA Ottawa joins organizations nationwide to commemorate Prisoners’ Justice Day. This annual event honours individuals in federal and provincial custody who have died unnatural or violent deaths while in correctional institutions, while also supporting their families.

Prisoners’ Justice Day highlights systemic issues affecting those in correctional facilities. In Ontario, an estimated 41 per cent of people experience at least one severe mental health issue while in custody. Individuals with existing mental health and/or substance issues often worsen, especially in segregation. Correctional healthcare in Ontario falls short of community standards, depriving these individuals of necessary support, as noted in numerous Coroner’s Inquest recommendations.

In November 2023, CMHA Ontario raised these concerns during the inquest into the death of Soleiman Faqiri, emphasizing the dire conditions in correctional facilities. Conditions have not improved enough, and many individuals like Mr. Faqiri continue to live with and experience mental health issues in these settings.

CMHA Ottawa actively supports these populations to improve the reintegration of individuals with a mental health and/or substance use issue as they transition back into the community.

At CMHA Ottawa, our Court Outreach Team supports individuals with mental health and addictions issues who are justice-involved. The team supported 334 individuals in the 2022-2023 fiscal year.

Specialized programs within Court Outreach include: Transitional Case Management (TCM), release from custody, pre-charge diversion, bail beds, Dual Diagnosis (Dual Dx), court system navigation, probation, post-court services, and more. Court System Navigation allows us to meet the demands of the justice system by triaging referrals.

We actively participate in the Human Services and Justice Coordinating Committee (HSJCC), an intersectoral network that strives to improve outcomes for those with complex human service needs who come into contact with the justice system.

We advocate for the complex needs of incarcerated populations, who are disproportionately First Nations, Inuit, Métis, Black and/or racialized individuals. This includes effective discharge planning, improved mental health and substance use care, and access to supportive housing.

We honour Mr. Faqiri’s memory and the many others who have died while in custody and strive to prevent future deaths in correctional institutions.

For more information about the Provincial HSJCC and their support of mandatory training on human rights and systemic racism, as well as de-escalation and use of force, visit hsjcc.on.ca.