What is the system challenge?

Men recently released from incarceration are more likely to face a broad range of challenges, including: lack of stable housing, employment and/or educational opportunities, anger management, mental health and substance use issues, lost identification, poverty, and lack of supportive social networks. Incarcerated people tend to have poorer health compared with the general population, and differences in health become more intense in the period shortly following release from jail. Deaths due to accidental drug overdose (as a result of decreased tolerance due to reduced drug exposure while incarcerated) are also very high among people recently released from custody.

More pressures exist for people recently released from prison because of stigma, and the lack of clear communication between community organizations, government agencies, and others who have the ability to support reintegration. Without assistance, men who are recently released from prison are highly likely to come back into contact with the criminal justice system in a relatively short period of time. Due to the unplanned nature of release from provincial prisons, the factors raised above are best addressed immediately after discharge.

What are we doing about it?

The Toronto Justice Service Collaborative partnered with the John Howard Society of Toronto’s Reintegration Centre (RC) to provide weekly onsite coaching and co-develop a comprehensive orientation and training curricula for onsite staff. The Reintegration Centre is a service, support, and referral hub for men being released from provincial custody that is located across the street from the Toronto South Detention Centre (TSDC). Immediately upon their release, men are able to receive coordinated access to community support services from a variety of partner agencies to help them safely transition into the community. The Service Collaborative also supported evaluation and research proposal development.

Exploration
Installation
Initial Implementation
Full Implementation

?What's this?

Installation

Toronto Justice Service Collaborative members worked together to develop a service model that would provide targeted support to individuals being released from custody. A number of options and opportunities were explored, and after considering readiness and suitability, members determined that Toronto Justice Service Collaborative resources should be used to support the John Howard Society of Toronto’s efforts to open a Reintegration Centre across from the Toronto South Detention Centre.

Initial Implementation

The Toronto Justice Service Collaborative partnered with the John Howard Society of Toronto’s Reintegration Centre (RC) to develop an intake tool, support the development and implementation of the service provision processes, conduct focus groups with key stakeholder groups to inform improvements and revisions to the intake tool and service delivery processes. Additionally, the Toronto Justice Service Collaborative completed a Toronto Housing Position Paper that was submitted to the Government of Ontario’s Affordable Housing Strategy Update Consultation.

Full Implementation

The Toronto Justice Service Collaborative partnered with the Reintegration Centre (RC) to provide weekly onsite coaching, co-developing a comprehensive orientation and training curricula for onsite staff. The Service Collaborative also supported evaluation and research proposal development.

Who is involved?

John Howard Society of Toronto
Fred Victor
Toronto Bail Program
Aboriginal Legal Services
Schizophrenia Society of Ontario
Legal Aid Ontario
Margaret’s Housing
Cota
Canadian Mental Health Association – Toronto
Elizabeth Fry Toronto

Resources

Voir la vidéo

CAMH PSSP

Toronto Justice Service Collaborative