In-court resources
There are limited services available inside courts to provide support or information to those dealing with charges.
In-court resources are serice organizations that exist in the community, but have offices or staff in the courthouse. They often work with or collaborate with police, courts, crown attorneys, and CAS.
General information
If you’re attending court while on bail, your release documents will let you know which courtroom you should be attending, and at what time. Each time you attend court, you will be given a new date and time to appear again as your case progresses. Make sure you write this down, or get it written down from duty counsel.
If you lost your paperwork, you will likely be appearing in the same courtroom as you did previously, but to verify you can:
1. Check the online "Daily Court List" the evening before, or morning of.
2. Check the online "Find my Case" tool
3. Check the daily court docket listing at your local courthouse. In Hamilton, court dockets are printed and posted just outside the main floor washrooms
4. Attend the help/services desk.
5. Within Hamilton, find your zoom link here under "Virtual Case Management" section.
Cases with publication bans may only be published under initials. Last minute docket additions, such as overnight arrests & bail hearings, may not be listed.
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John Howard Society or Elizabeth Fry
JHS and EFS are non-profit organizations that work with people who are criminalized and/or in conflict with the law. Elizabeth Fry specifically serves women, trans, and non-binary people, however Efry’s Hamilton area office was recently closed. John Howard now takes on clients of all genders.
JHS offers help with bail planning, including providing supervised bail programs when you don’t have a surety. They also offer a significant amount of programming and information for youth who have been criminalized, including things like anger management to complete diversion or probation processes.
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Canadian Mental Health Association
The Canadian Mental Health Association (CMHA) can provide alternatives and options to people with serious mental illness who become involved in the criminal justice system.
Their Mental Health Court Support Services is comprised of three components:
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Mental Health Court Diversion
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Intensive Case Management
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Release from Custody
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Mental Health Court Diversion
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Linking people to short and long-term services and supports.
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Support and information for family members and/or significant others.
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Education about consumer issues, mental illness, mental health services, and the mental health system.
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Consultation for people who are not deemed suitable for diversion.
As well, staff will provide consultation and advice to the judiciary on cases referred for diversion.
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Intensive Case Management
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Intensive case management for persons who have a serious mental illness, a concurrent disorder, or a dual diagnosis
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Provide outreach, court support, and support plans based on identified need in order to prevent further involvement with the criminal justice system
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Linkages to longer term case management services, rehabilitative programs/medical treatment, accessing appropriate financial entitlements. accessing appropriate housing
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Support and information for family members and/or significant others
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Release from Custody
To provide short term, intensive case management services to individuals with a serious mental illness who are being released from correctional custody, in order to facilitate a stable transition back to the community, reduce recidivism, and enable a recovery- focused lifestyle.
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For further information on any of the programs or referrals, contact:
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Mental Health Court Support Services
John Sopinka Courthouse
45 Main Street East
Hamilton, ON, L8N 2B7
Phone: (905) 645-5252, extension 3662
Fax: (905) 521-0211
E-mail: info@cmhahamilton.ca
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Indigenous court workers
Indigenous court workers often work out of Indigenous Friendship Centres. Most courthouses have an Indigenous court worker who can:
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offer you support
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give you legal information
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help you apply for a Legal Aid certificate
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refer you to community services for help with issues like mental health, trauma, substance use, and/or homelessness
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help you with your release plan for your bail hearing
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help you with your plan of care for your sentencing hearing
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help you with Indigenous diversion, if appropriate
The Hamilton Regional Indian Centre (HRIC) has an Indigenous Courtworker Program that provides assistance to all Indigenous people who are in conflict with the legal system whether they are status, non-status, Metis, or Inuit.
If your courthouse is outside of Hamilton, check-in with your local Friendship Centre to see if they offer a courtworker program or can connect you to another resource. Find your local centre at the Ontario Federation Of Indigenous Friendship Centres.
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