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Developmental Disabilities in Ontario's Criminal Justice and Forensic Mental Health Systems: Using Data to Tell the Story

What is the issue?

There is concern that there are many adults with developmental disabilities in the Ontario criminal justice and forensic mental health systems. These individuals have many physical and mental health issues and use high rates of health care. However, there has been a lack of data showing the extent of this issue in Ontario, which has inhibited the ability of service providers and policy makers to make evidence-based decisions regarding appropriate strategies to support individuals with developmental disabilities in Ontario’s criminal justice and forensic mental health systems.

How is H-CARDD helping?

This study aims to address the existing gap in data so that more attention can be paid to how individuals with developmental disabilities can be best supported before, during, and after involvement with criminal justice and forensic mental health systems.

The study is interested in answering questions such as:

  • How many people within Ontario’s criminal justice and forensic mental health systems have developmental disabilities? We have found that people with developmental disabilities are over-represented in these systems relative to the general population. Whereas the prevalence of people with developmental disabilities has been found to be between 0.7% and 0.9% in the general population, their prevalence has been found to be as high as 17% among forensic inpatients, 8% in community mental health justice programs, and 2% in both provincial and federal correctional facilities.
  • What are the sociodemographic and clinical characteristics of people with developmental disabilities in Ontario’s criminal justice and forensic mental health systems, and how are they different from those of the general population within these systems? People with developmental disabilities within criminal justice and forensic mental health systems, compared to those without, tend to be younger, from poorer neighbourhoods, have more physical and psychiatric illnesses, and use more health care services.
  • What are some potential solutions for the current over-representation of people with developmental disabilities in Ontario’s criminal justice and forensic mental health systems? The addition of various supports and services catered towards individuals with developmental disabilities could help improve the current situation. These services could include preventative community supports prior to system involvement, increased availability of tailored developmental disability services and supports within these systems, improved training of forensic mental health and criminal justice officials, and investment in services and supports for the transition out of these systems to prevent re-entry.

For more information, please contact:

Yona Lunsky, PhD, C. Psych
Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH)
Department of Psychiatry, University of Toronto
Phone: 416 535 8501 x 37813
Email: yona.lunsky@camh.ca

Tiziana Volpe, PhD
Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH)
Phone: 416-535-8501 x 30751
Email: tiziana.volpe@camh.ca

Azrieli Centre - Yona Lunsky talking to a colleague on BGB stairsThe Azrieli Adult Neurodevelopmental Centre

The Azrieli Adult Neurodevelopmental Centre is the first research and education centre in Canada dedicated to improving care for adults with neurodevelopmental disabilities and mental health challenges.  The centre includes several scientists who work closely with trainees, patient and family advisors to study and develop ways to improve the mental health of this population. Scientists at the centre are running several research projects focused on mental health and disability.

Learn more
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New! Supporting the Health of Special Olympics Canada Athletes 

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Criminal Justice and Forensic Mental Health Systems

More Information

Summary: get a quick overview of this study in the research snapshot Developmental Disabilities in Ontario's Criminal Justice and Forensic Mental Health Systems: Using Data to Tell the Story

Read the Snapshot Developmental Disabilities in Ontario's Criminal Justice System: Using Federal Correctional Data to Tell the Story

Read the Snapshot Developmental Disabilities in Ontario's Criminal Justice and Forensic System: Using Data to Tell the Story

Read the Snapshot Developmental Disabilities in Ontario's Provincial Correctional Facilities: Using Data to Tell the Story

Video: Watch Using Data to Tell the Story of Developmental Disabilities in Ontario's Criminal Justice and Forensic Mental Health Systems: Recommendations and Lessons Learned presented March 9, 2021 at the MCCSS KTT Webinar Series. 

Journal Publications

For scientific journal publications about H-CARDD research, visit our knowledge exchange section.

  • Intellectual and developmental disabilities in Ontario's criminal justice and forensic mental health systems: Using data to tell the story
  • Intellectual/developmental disabilities among people incarcerated in federal correctional facilities in Ontario, Canada: Examining prevalence, health and correctional characteristics
  • Intensive use of forensic inpatient services by people with intellectual and developmental disabilities in Ontario: Prevalence and associated characteristics  
  • The prevalence and health status of people with developmental disabilities in provincial prisons in Ontario, Canada: A retrospective cohort study .

Resources: This toolkit from Community Networks of Specialized Care focuses on developmental disabilities in the criminal justice system

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