Toronto Justice Service Collaborative
TORONTO
An evidence-informed intervention providing men who have recently been released from prison with coordinated access to the community support services they need to safely transition back into the community.
What is the system challenge?
In Ontario, evidence shows that men recently released from prison are more likely to face a broad range of challenges, including:
lack of access to stable housing;
lack of employment;
lack of educational opportunities;
anger management issues;
mental health and substance use issues;
lost identification (i.e. driver’s license);
poverty; and
lack of supportive social networks.
Imprisoned people also tend to have poorer overall health than the general population and are at greater risk of death from an accidental drug overdose immediately after release.
These men face further obstacles upon release from prison due to barriers that discharge planners face in their efforts to develop effective plans for release. Obstacles include the lack of clear lines of communication between community organizations, government agencies, and others who have the ability to support reintegration into the community, as well as the stigma surrounding former prisoners. Research shows that men who are released from prison but do not receive assistance with reintegration have a high risk of re-offending within a relatively short period of time.
What are we doing about it?
The Toronto Justice Service Collaborative determined that the best time to provide assistance to men released from custody is the period immediately after discharge. The Service Collaborative partnered with the John Howard Society of Toronto to build capacity and enhance processes within the Reintegration Centre – a service, support, and referral hub for men that includes mental health, housing and legal services.
The Service Collaborative worked with partners at the John Howard Society to co-develop a staff orientation and training program, with weekly coaching related skills provided by a PSSP implementation coach.
Now, immediately upon release, men are able to receive coordinated access to community support services from a variety of partner agencies at the Reintegration Centre to help them safely transition into the community.
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The Toronto Justice Service Collaborative convened a group of more than fifty organizations representing the mental health and addictions, social services, and justice sectors. They identified the point of release from custody as an opportunity for action and reviewed potential intervention models.
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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 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.
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Youth Court officially launched in St. Catharines on Feb. 2, 2015. Reflecting a planned, staged process designed to ensure a smooth rollout, the NYCSI Screening Team became operational in May 2015. Screening Team processes were continuously improved over the next year. As Initial Implementation progressed, new Screening Team members came onboard to enhance team capacity to support youth. In addition, the Screening Team and PSSP implementation team members delivered a series of education and training sessions to court system professionals and the broader Niagara community. These efforts helped build a broader understanding of NYCSI and engaged relevant stakeholders.
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The Toronto Justice Service Collaborative partnered with the John Howard Society of Toronto to provide weekly onsite coaching to Reintegration Centre staff and co-develop a comprehensive orientation and training program for onsite staff.