This project has been funded by the FRSQ (2006 to 2009) and by the Mental Health Commission of Canada (2009 to 2013).
The project has examined the operation of criminal justice provisions for individuals declared Not Criminally Responsible on account of Mental Disorder (NCRMD)
and under the authority of a provincial or territorial review board
in Québec, Ontario and British-Columbia.
It has examined the antecedents and trajectories of NCRMD accused, including mental health and criminal justice involvement,
review board decision-making, and mental health and criminal outcomes.
The review board files and RCMP files have been used for this study. The data from health databases are not available in all provinces.
You can access the main publications done with this research
here
Over the past two decades, Canada has witnessed a significant increase in the number of individuals found Not Criminally Responsible on Account of Mental Disorder (NCRMD) and entering the forensic mental health system. Recent high profile cases have elicited considerable debate as to the most efficient and effective way to safely manage and treat these individuals.
The goal of the present study is to better understand the needs and outcomes of individuals found NCR, how those needs are met and what measures are put in place as they leave the hospital, in order to identify the best way of ensuring successful community reintegration. To achieve this goal, we will conduct in-depth analyses of official administrative, health and criminal records of a large Canadian cohort of individuals found NCR as they have left hospital between 2010 and 2015, and followed up to 2018 in 8 provinces.
With the participation of our health and justice partners across Canada, this research will identify individual (NCR persons), clinical practice (treatments) and systems (organization of services and resources) factors that play into safe and healthy community reintegration of these forensic patients. This study will directly inform practices, policy making and public knowledge.