"Alicia Gordon has had her share of run-ins with the law, from property crime to break and enters, while also struggling with a substance abuse disorder. The Thunder Bay, Ont., woman was in and out of jail between 2019 and 2021, when she connected with a bail verification and supervision program (BVSP) run by the John Howard Society that connected her with the supports that helped her get sober. It became like a safety net, she said."
"It's a way to ensure non-violent offenders have the best chance at following through with their bail conditions, says Safiyah Husein, the society's director of policy. She says 80 per cent of people in provincial jails are legally innocent people, awaiting trial or a bail hearing. A lot of people in the criminal justice system, in the bail system, are dealing with a lot of complex social and health issues, including mental health issues, addiction, homelessness and poverty, Husein said."
A Thunder Bay woman with property crime and substance abuse history cycled through jail between 2019 and 2021 before connecting with a bail verification and supervision program (BVSP) that linked her to supports and helped her achieve sobriety. The BVSP acted as a safety net. Expanding BVSPs and adding bail beds across Ontario would increase chances that non-violent accused comply with bail conditions and receive necessary services. About 80 per cent of people in provincial jails are legally innocent, awaiting trial or bail hearings. Many accused contend with mental illness, addiction, homelessness and poverty, placing strain on the bail system and frontline services. Police, lawyers and community agencies report pressure to manage these complex social and health needs.
Read at www.cbc.ca
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