The Ministry of Community Safety and Correctional Services (MCSCS) is working to change its protocols when it comes to people with mental illnesses entering the criminal justice system. That’s the message Minister Yasir Naqvi shared at the Human Services and Justice Coordinating Committee (HSJCC) conference last week. 
In his speech, Naqvi described Ontario’s current correctional system as a “warehouse model” and emphasized that this model must be replaced with a more holistic approach to dealing with offenders. He shared the commitment by MCSCS to ensure that mental illnesses be dealt with appropriately at the pre-charge stage in order to avoid unnecessary entry into the criminal justice system, and applauded the work of community organizations working hard on mental health for Ontarians.
For more information on MCSCS, visit their website.