Peterborough Community Support Court

An example of a concurrent disorder is a condition where a person experiences both mental illness and a substance abuse disorder. The Peterborough Community Support Court is a justice and treatment partnership which adopts strategies aimed at reducing crime and enhancing individual and community well-being by promoting and facilitating the holistic rehabilitation of criminal defendants experiencing both a mental illness and a substance abuse disorder.

Watch experienced practitioners from the Peterborough Community Support Court, explain the mechanics, challenges and successes of this approach.Kate Bertrand - Addictions Counsellor with Four Counties Addiction Services Team (FourCAST). Court Support Worker within the Peterborough Community Support Court for 3.5 years. 

Bakhtawar Riaz is a Justice Service Worker at the Elizabeth Fry Society of Peterborough. She has been in this role for 2.5 years.

Julia Bakker is a Justice Service Worker with the Canadian Mental Health Association, Haliburton, Kawartha, Pine Ridge. She has been case managing individuals through the Community Support Court since 2016. Julia has previously completed her undergraduate thesis work in the area of Drug Treatment Court Programs, as well as assisting with the Durham Drug Treatment & Mental Health Court Research Project in 2014 as part of her Criminology studies at the University of Ontario Institute of Technology. She is passionate about using a multi-disciplinary approach to divert individuals away from the justice system using strength based, trauma informed and culturally mindful practices.

Kelly Eberhard, called to the bar in 1999, is an assistant Crown Attorney in Peterborough. She has been an Assistant Crown since 2007 and defence counsel prior to that.