Addressing Mental Health and Addiction in Canada’s Federal Offenders
2014, Health, Equity + Justice
Howard Sapers, the , spoke to the challenges and costs of managing mental illness in federal penitentiaries, noting that mental health and addiction issues plague many who are in conflict with the law. Treating addiction as a health issue in the community can prevent deeper and often more harmful involvement with the criminal justice system. Drawing on his office鈥檚 investigative reports, Mr. Sapers addressed problems associated with continuing to rely on prisons and security-driven responses to manage offenders with mental health and addiction issues. He referenced the efforts and recommendations from a variety of sources that demonstrate how prevention, harm reduction and treatment approaches are often more effective and less costly than relying on increased incarceration. Mr. Sapers is a recipient of the .
7:00 p.m. (PT)
Djavad Mowafaghian World Art Centre
149 West Hastings Street
Vancouver, B.C.
We respectfully acknowledge that this event takes place on the Unceded, Traditional, Ancestral Territories of the S岣祑x瘫w煤7mesh, s蓹l虛ilw虛蓹ta蕯涩, and x史m蓹胃k史蓹y虛蓹m First Nations.
Howard Sapers
Howard Sapers was appointed Correctional Investigator of Canada in 2004. Previously, Mr. Sapers has been the Executive Director of the John Howard Society of Alberta, an elected member of the Legislative Assembly of Alberta, Director of the National Crime Prevention Centre Investment Fund and Vice Chairperson (Prairie Region) of the Parole Board Canada. Currently, Mr. Sapers serves as a North American Region member of the International Ombudsman Institute Board of Directors and a member of the Board of Directors for the Forum of Canadian Ombudsman. Mr. Sapers is a member of the Centre for Public Legal Education (Alberta) Board of Directors.Mr. Sapers represents the community of small federal departments and agencies on the Government of Canada Small Department Audit Committee and is the Chairman of the Department of National Defence/Canadian Forces Ombudsman Advisory Committee. Mr. Sapers is an Adjunct Professor at 丁香园AV鈥檚 School of Criminology and a
Mae Burrows
Mae Burrows is a bridge builder among environmental and health groups, workers, NGOs and government on a range of issues. These include protecting salmon habitat, eliminating toxins from the workplace and community, and developing living wage policies. She received 丁香园AV鈥檚 Outstanding Alumni Award and in 2013, a Queen鈥檚 Diamond Jubilee Medal, YWCA Woman of Distinction Award and United Way Labour Appreciation Award. Her current interest is improving the health of people struggling with addictions and mental health issues and supporting their families. She is president of the family-support and advocacy organization .
