Evaluating a Mental Health Screening Process in a Youth Criminal Court

​

Researchers discuss preliminary results of evaluations of two court programs for youth with mental health needs: a systematic mental health screening program and a youth mental health court. They identify program strengths and recommend practices that support youths’ access to services to address their needs. 

Speaker Bios

 Dr. Michele Peterson-Badali

Michele Peterson-Badali is a professor in the Department of Applied Psychology and Human Development at the Ontario Institute for Studies in Education, University of Toronto. She has taught in the areas of professional psychology ethics, child psychological assessment, and children, psychology and the law. Her research examines issues in youth criminal justice psychology. Current projects focus on effective assessment and intervention for justice system-involved youth mental health. In addition to scholarly dissemination of her work, Dr. Peterson-Badali is actively engaged in bringing her research findings into the spheres of public policy and practice; she has conducted research and provided policy consultation for Canada's Department of Justice, provided consultation and training to various youth courts and probation offices, and served as an expert witness for the Ontario Advocate for Children and Youth. (131 words)

​

Aminah Chambers

Aminah Chambers is a PhD candidate in the Youth Justice Lab under the supervision of Dr. Michele Peterson-Badali at the University of Toronto/OISE. Her research interests are in the area of adolescent mental health and improving outcomes for justice-involved youth. Using both qualitative and quantitative methods, her research focuses on examining court processes for youth and their families who encounter the justice system, and ways that courts can identify and address the complex needs of youth with mental health issues. She is also interested in identifying factors that contribute to justice system outcome disparities for marginalized youth, and identifying risk and strength factors for criminal offending in justice-involved girls and women.

Mental Health Courts - A Judicial Roundtable

Mental Health Courts vary in structure and operation. A judicial panel will discuss some issues arising from the operation of Mental Health Courts and share some ideas on how to optimize outcomes.

Panelists

Justice Richard Schneider

Appointed to the Bench in 2020. Was one of the organizers of the first mental health court in North America. Seconded to Chair the Ontario Review Board in 2012

Justice Craig Sigurdson

Justice Craig Sigurdson started his career in the Ontario government, at age 18, as a correctional officer in a maximum security institution. He then served as a social worker at the London Psychiatric Hospital and also worked as the Senior Officer in-Charge at the Child and Parent Resource Institute, a government-operated children’s mental health facility.

Justice Craig Sigurdson was the prosecutor responsible for the mental health court in St. Thomas, where he had the privilege of appearing before his co-panelist, Justice Donald. Justice Craig Sigurdson is one of the designated judges who presides in both the mental health and drug treatment courts in Kitchener.

Justice Glen Donald

Justice Glen Donald was appointed to the Ontario Court of Justice in 2018 to preside in St. Thomas (where Justice Craig Sigurdson was then an ACA). Justice Donald was called to the bar in 2002. Justice Donald was a defense lawyer who spent a lot of time defending police officers – his experiences there made it plain that Mental Health does not discriminate about those it impacts. There was an operating Mental Health Court when Justice Donald arrived in St. Thomas. Justice Donald “took over” in 2019 and made some adjustments. Justice Donald kept it going through the pandemic without interruption.

Mental Health Courts - Treatment and legal Issues

Mental Health Courts are Justice Treatment Partnerships which to varying degrees integrate legal case processing with mental health treatment interventions. Experienced practitioners will discuss some of the legal and treatment issues which arise in the operation of Mental Health Courts. 

Panelists

Kym Briggs is a Registered Social Worker who has spent 15-years on the front lines of the mental health and justice system. Kym has held several positions throughout her career, including Probation and Parole Officer, Crisis Outreach Counsellor and Justice Services Case Manager where she coordinated delivery of the mental health court programs in Elgin County. Currently, Kym teaches Forensic Psychology at Kings University College and Wilfrid Laurier university, she is co-leading the development of an upcoming drug treatment court for Elgin County and she is working toward her Doctorate in Educational Leadership. Kym believes in focusing on equity as a main tool to improve mental wellness in our communities.   

Christine Lund is a lawyer practicing Criminal Law in Dufferin - Peel. Her practice focuses on representing vulnerable adults and youth in the criminal justice system as well as acting for complainants in Sexual Assault pre-trial applications. Christine is the Peel Director of the Criminal Lawyers’ Association and has been a long time member of the Brampton courthouse Mental Health Committee (now known as Alternative Resolution Court). She believes in a client-centered, collaborative approach to lawyering. She was appointed as a Member of the Ontario Review Board in 2020.  

Lucy Rasmussen has been practicing law since 2005 where she was called to the Bar of England and Wales.

She worked as a Civil and Criminal Barrister for several years before moving to Ontario. Since, 2014 she has worked at the Peel Crown Attorneys Office. Currently, she is the Mental Health Team Lead, as well as being the designated Elder Abuse Crown and sits on numerous committees including the HSJCC, MHJAC and ARC. Additionally, she is a board member of the Alzheimer’s Society of Peel. Lucy is passionate about trying to assist those involved in the Criminal Justice System who are particularly vulnerable and/or marginalised.

Therapeutic Courts in Canada – A jurisdictional scan of mental health courts and drug treatment courts.

The province of Ontario conducted a jurisdictional scan to identify the common barriers, and challenges of Therapeutic Courts from across Canada. This report also identified some recommendations to optimize successful outcomes. A principal author of the report will discuss some important lessons learned.

Speakers: Susan Reid Counsel Ontario Crown Law Office - Criminal

Trauma-Informed Processes

10:10 AM - 10:50 AM



This presentation focuses on what trauma is, how it affects us, why we should consider it in the courtroom, and what courtroom practices we can implement to help alleviate the ongoing effects of trauma. The prevalence of serious traumatic experiences among our neighbours and fellow community members is alarming, and its consequences can be severe, manifesting in stressful environments like courtrooms. Presenters in this section will walk through direct clinical experiences, personal experiences, and a case study to help illustrate the many sides of trauma. This presentation will conclude with suggestions on how court practitioners can better help case participants cope with trauma and on how to incorporate trauma-informed practices into the courtroom.

Lindsey Price Jackson, Senior Program Manager of Community Justice Initiatives, Centre for Justice Innovation, New York

Kathryn Ford

Director of Clinical Supervision and Child Witness Initiatives

Centre for Justice Innovation, New York

Toronto Mental Health Court

The “why, the how and impacts” of the Toronto Mental Health Court shall be discussed including challenges, successes and best practice recommendations.

Daniel Brandes

Assistant Crown Attorney

Mental Health Court Old City Hall

Saint John Mental Health Court

The “why, the how and impacts” of the Saint John Mental Health Court shall be discussed including challenges, successes and best practice recommendations

Judge Andrew Palmer

Provincial Court of New Brunswick

Natasha Meier

Crown Prosecutor

Public Prosecutions

New Brunswick

Ms. Rebekah Logan

Crown Prosecutor

Public Prosecutions

New Brunswick

London Adult Therapeutic Court

The “why, the how and impacts” of the London Adult Therapeutic Court shall be discussed including challenges, successes and best practice recommendations

Charles Yih

Assistant Crown Attorney

London Adult Therapeutic Court

Ministry of Attorney General

Ontario

Dr. Ajay Prakash,

Interim Medical Director

Forensic psychiatrist

London Adult Therapeutic Court

Evaluating a Mental Health Screening Process in a Youth Criminal Court

​

Researchers discuss preliminary results of evaluations of two court programs for youth with mental health needs: a systematic mental health screening program and a youth mental health court. They identify program strengths and recommend practices that support youths’ access to services to address their needs. 

Speaker Bios

 Dr. Michele Peterson-Badali

Michele Peterson-Badali is a professor in the Department of Applied Psychology and Human Development at the Ontario Institute for Studies in Education, University of Toronto. She has taught in the areas of professional psychology ethics, child psychological assessment, and children, psychology and the law. Her research examines issues in youth criminal justice psychology. Current projects focus on effective assessment and intervention for justice system-involved youth mental health. In addition to scholarly dissemination of her work, Dr. Peterson-Badali is actively engaged in bringing her research findings into the spheres of public policy and practice; she has conducted research and provided policy consultation for Canada's Department of Justice, provided consultation and training to various youth courts and probation offices, and served as an expert witness for the Ontario Advocate for Children and Youth. (131 words)

​

Aminah Chambers

Aminah Chambers is a PhD candidate in the Youth Justice Lab under the supervision of Dr. Michele Peterson-Badali at the University of Toronto/OISE. Her research interests are in the area of adolescent mental health and improving outcomes for justice-involved youth. Using both qualitative and quantitative methods, her research focuses on examining court processes for youth and their families who encounter the justice system, and ways that courts can identify and address the complex needs of youth with mental health issues. She is also interested in identifying factors that contribute to justice system outcome disparities for marginalized youth, and identifying risk and strength factors for criminal offending in justice-involved girls and women.