Mental Illness

& the
Police Response

Linking Social Justice to Social Policy

History of Mental
Health and
Policies Institutionalization (ending
approx. 1970s): People with
Eugenics:
Greek for 'of good origin'
1920s-1960s The goal was to
improve the quality of the
human race by breeding certain
types of people while those with
a disability were eliminated. An
IQ test was used to make the
determination of mental
disability (George, 2021, 52)
disabilities were shunned out of
general society, into hospital-like
institutions, and sterilized as a
method to control ‘the menace of
the feeble-minded” or "mentally
defective people from poisoning
the race". Deemed incompetent
and no benefit to society, they
remained housed, until it became
too expensive for the government
to sustain. (Chappell, 2014)
The beginning of
reform:They were moved to
treatments within the
community
1960’s-70s saw the disability
rights movement. In 1990
the Mental Health Act was
established to protect those
living with a mental illness,
from harm inflicted from
themselves and others.
Present Day - Is the Legislation Working?

Person's with Mental

Illnesses (PMI's),
are 40% more
likely to be
arrested, imprisoned or killed the number of
by police PMIs involved in
violent crimes is
79% are
no more than
re-involved with police those in the
general public
How do Police Respond to PMI Calls?

Clearly there is a need for a

framework where a Crisis
Intervention Team with a
In Peel - The Tactical unit Social Worker, Registered
responded to PMI Ejaz Choudry Nurse Practitioner or
and shouted commands Occupational Therapist and a
specially trained Police
in English (which he did not
Officer, respond to calls
speak or understand). This involving PMI.
interaction ended in Choudry's
fatal shooting by Police. Last
week, the officer was found to
be not criminally responsible
for his death.
 We Have the
The framework had been in place for
6 months prior to the Ejaz Choudry incident.
64% of informants to a research study stated a
"lack of comprehensive provincial policies for
collaboration between Framework
police and mental health
services."

(The Provincial Human Services & Justice Coordination

Committee, 2011)
Effectiveness of Crisis Intervention Teams
 A Pathway to Justice and Community-Based Reform

- The Provincial Human Services & Justice Coordination Committee, 2011

 A Break in the
System
The Crown Attorney is to set the
protocols to determine how someone
is to be assessed and referred to the
Mental Illness Court. Why are the
courts underused?

Mental Illness Courts:

With Judges and lawyers
specially trained in Mental
Illnesses and intersecting
issues that lead some to have
conlfict with the law.
The lack of this
readily available information
attests to the furthering of the
oppression of this group
From Research to Advocacy to Action
 Date: April 12, 2021

THE BILL
Author: Dorothy Rodrigues
and Jerilee Watts
A BILL TO AMMEND THE COMMUNITY SAFETY AND
POLICING ACT, 2019 S.O. 2019 AND REGULATIONS,
IMPLEMENT NEW POLICIES FOR INTERACTIONS
BETWEEN POLICE SERVICES AND PERSONS WITH
MENTAL ILLNESSES [PMI]
This Bill proposes to amend the Community Safety and
Policing Act, 2019 (not yet in action). Whereas there are no
guidelines in place regarding the specificity of calls
received pertaining to PMIs in crisis and interactions of
Police Officers (or named affiliates). Whereas Police
Officers (or named affiliates), are required to respond to
‘Wellness Calls’ or ‘Welfare Calls’, this Bill proposes that
current Mobile Crisis Rapid Response Team (MCRRT) be
expanded in an effort to meet the needs of those PMI in
crisis. Therefore, the MCRRT will be first responders to all
PMI crisis calls. IN addition, we propose by means of this
When there are delays at the
Bill, to implement the divergence pathway to the Mental
Committee Level:
Illness Court, if/when a PMI is processed through the Contact the families of those
judicial system, set out in the research findings of the touched by the police fatalities
Provincial Human Services & Justice Coordination of mental health crisis calls,
Committee. Therefore, whereas Bill 105 proposes changes and ask for them to sign a
to training this Bill proposes that Bill 105 be stricken and petition to have these proposed
replaced by these new changes and policies. changes be heard in the Social
Policy Committee
 Answer Poll Questions here:

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfy6HLxtAFyEOEBL7dNkeSuq3N9-
uG4dA7_HLepiFvAtGkTBw/viewform?usp=sf_link
 References

Chandrasekera, U., & Pajooman, N. (2011). (rep.). Police & Mental Health A Critical Review of Joint Police/Mental
Health Collaborations in Ontario . Provincial Human Services and Justice Coordinating Committee. Retrieved
from
http://bcm.connexontario.ca/Provincial/Police%20and%20Mental%20Health%20Project/Police%20and%20Men
tal%20Health%20-%20A%20Critical%20Review%20of%20Joint%20Police-
Mental%20Health%20Collaborations%20in%20Ontario.pdf

George, M.(2021). The Historical Evolution of Systemic Oppression[PowerPoint presentation].

Slate.,https://slate.sheridancollege.ca/d2l/le/content/796411/viewContent/10468342/View

Staff. (2020, January 23). Peel Regional Police launches Mobile Crisis Rapid Response Team. Blue Line.
https://www.blueline.ca/peel-regional-police-launches-mobile-crisis-rapid-response-team/.

Toronto Police Service. (2021). Mental Health. Toronto Police Service :: To Serve and Protect.
http://www.torontopolice.on.ca/community/mcit.php.