RT Article
T1 Reducing Criminal Justice Involvement of Individuals Experiencing Homelessness and Mental Illness: perspectives of Frontline Practitioners
JF Canadian journal of criminology and criminal justice
VO 62
IS 2
SP 1
OP 21
A1 Roy, Laurence
A2 Billette, Isabelle
A2 Boissy, François
A2 Crocker, Anne
A2 Côté, Michelle
A2 Hurtubise, Roch
A2 Latimer, Eric
LA English
YR 2020
UL https://krimdok.uni-tuebingen.de/Record/1742741193
AB Individuals experiencing both homelessness and mental illness have high rates of interaction with public safety and criminal justice institutions. Several cross-sector diversion programs have been developed over the past decades as alternatives to incarceration. Most of these initiatives rely on the commitment and expertise of frontline practitioners from different sectors and backgrounds. Th is research examines the perspectives of frontline practitioners regarding practices and policies that target justice involvement of individuals experiencing both homelessness and mental health issues in a Canadian urban context. Findings from focus groups with 55 participants drawn from the police, the community and public health and social services sectors indicate that frontline practitioners value and support close proximity in cross-sector action, while raising ethical and legal issues related to this type of practice. Participants also describe how exclusion from services for this population, lack of involvement from corrections, housing, and forensic mental health services, and ineffective use of involuntary treatment mechanisms shape and constrain frontline practice. Th e findings of this article give voice to the specific concerns of frontline service providers. Given these findings, we suggest potential strategies to better serve individuals who are identified as "harder to serve" but who might also benefit from diversion from the criminal justice system. (English)
K1 Criminal Justice System
K1 Homelessness
K1 Involuntary treatment
K1 Justice
K1 Mental Health Services
K1 Mental Illness
K1 Public Health Ethics
K1 Community
K1 Courts
K1 Criminality
K1 Interdisciplinary
K1 Police
K1 Professional Development
DO 10.3138/cjccj.2019-0056