Bulletin: Intervening with Offenders with Mental Illness

The vast majority of people with mental illness never contemplate or commit crime. However, some people with a mental health illness end up in court in greater need of counselling and treatment than of custody and confrontation.

Working with the judiciary, the province will develop a Mental Health Court Program. In year one, the province will begin to develop a made-in-Nova-Scotia program that will address those offenders in need of mental health services. They will be held accountable for their behaviour in a way that is supportive and sensitive to their illness.

Those involved in holding persons with mental illness accountable should have expertise and experience in dealing with mental health issues. The province will work with the departments of Health and Community Services to develop this expertise. In year two, the province will implement the mental health court program, based on the best practices of other jurisdictions, tailored to meet the needs of Nova Scotians.

Investment: $1,840,000
Sites: Halifax Regional Municipality

Strategy Link: Intervention, see p. 43. Time to Fight Crime Together

The complete Crime Prevention Strategy is available online at www.gov.ns.ca .