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Treatment Court to help those with mental health issues By Dominik Kurek OAKVILLE BEAVER STAFF Oakville MPP Kevin Flynn is pleased with what the Halton Community Treatment Court (HCTC) can do for individuals suffering from mental health problems or addictions. The treatment court, located at the Burlington Court House (2021 Plains Rd. E. in Burlington), had its first sitting in May and is expected to meet weekly. The HCTC is designed to help individuals who find themselves on the wrong side of the law seek appropriate mental health and addiction services, as well it offers the support they may need rather than throwing them in jail. However, this is not a Get-Out-of-JailFree card, Flynn said. Individuals will still face justice. "I don't want people to confuse this as a way out of the justice system, that somebody is not accountable for their crime," said Flynn, who previously chaired Ontario's Select Committee on Mental Health and Addictions. "What we're saying, if (the crime) happened as a result of a mental illness, instead of just putting you in jail, why don't we deal with the mental illness?" He said the treatment court will "keep individuals who don't belong in jail, out of jail." This will free up space for the individuals who do belong in there without having to build more prisons. Flynn also noted that a large number of individuals in the prison system are dealing with mental-health issues and they may not get the help they need inside. "What this does is it nips it in the bud," he said. "This gets it right at the start. If the person is co-operative and realizes there is an issue, they'll have a psychiatrist in the court, they'll have the Canadian Mental Health Association in the court, there will be a number of people who can give this person -- who's been charged with what- 9 · Friday, July 27, 2012 OAKVILLE BEAVER · www.insideHALTON.com "What this does is it nips it in the bud. This gets it right at the start... there will be a number of people who can give this person... the tools and assistance to get beyond the (mental) illness." Oakville MPP Kevin Flynn ever -- the tools and the assistance to get beyond the illness." The HCTC is aimed at addressing inequities and gaps in the justice system for people with mental health or addictions problems. It was initiated through the co-operative efforts of the Crown Attorney's office (provincial and federal levels), the local defence bar, the Halton Regional Police Service and various mental health treatSee Court page 13 Michael g. Degroote tHe new openIng Senior School September 2012! L A FIN ! K E WE HSC IS reInVeStIng In our future. We are creating a studentcentred learning environment to unleash the academic potential of all students in the College and to maximize the accomplishments and potential of our graduates. - Marc Ayotte, Head of College Hillfield Strathallan College is an independent day school for students from M3 and PK to Grade 12. Visit us at www.hsc.on.ca. Call Scott Barton It's worth it! 905-389-1367 www.hsc.on.ca Fast Track your Career in Insurance Start in September 2012 Now offered at Sheridan's Hazel McCallion Campus in Mississauga, Ontario. Graduate in 16 months with this program's "Fast Track" format. For more information: mohawkcollege.ca/insurance-faq