Like the vast majority of Canadians I had no idea what being found "Not Criminally Responsible" (NCR) really meant or how these people were handled after being found NCR.
The Harper government is looking to change the laws affecting those who are found to be not mentally responsible for their actions. After reading the attached case information I have a better view as to what happens to these people after they are incarcerated in a mental health institute and undergo therapy.
Contrary to popular belief, mine included, and what the Conservatives want the public to believe these people are not simply released into the public.....
http://ca.news.yahoo.com/depth-look-not-criminally-responsible-eyes-patient-222105131.html
"Out here living amongst us"
Clifton wants to debunk the misconception that not criminally responsible verdicts flood the streets with the criminally insane soon after their trials.
"I have not been released overnight," he says.
"It's been a very slow, gradual process. They've been very cautious. I have not shown any violence since my index offence, but every review board I have they mention I'm a threat to society or something."
Once someone like Clifton is found not criminally responsible they are managed by review boards — independent tribunals made up of at least five people, including at least one psychiatrist.
Each year people in most NCR cases go before their province's review board. It can order that the person remain detained in a hospital, with varying levels of privileges, it can release the person on a conditional discharge or order an absolute discharge.
Absolute discharges are granted only when the board finds the person is not a "significant threat" to public safety.
Few NCR cases get an absolute discharge at the first hearing, according to a government-commissioned study of review boards in Canada between 1992 and 2004.
About 35 per cent of people in NCR cases spend more than 10 years in the system, the study found.
"A classic Bushism"
Once again this government is being reactive rather than pro-active due to a perception that many Canadians have towards those found to be NCR. They are feeding off our misconception of the system leading people to believe that they are working in our best interest.... they want to keep the masses ignorant of the facts so that the voter will believe they are the only ones that can protect them....
Thousands of people have already gone through the review board system and are living in our cities and towns after getting absolute discharges, says Chris Summerville, CEO of the Schizophrenia Society of Canada.
"People talk like these people must be hidden in some institution somewhere," he says.
"(They're) out here living amongst us and you're not reading about them every day in the paper. What you're reading about are the high-profile cases."
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