Mental health is an increasingly important societal issue. While one in four people found not criminally responsible for their actions due to mental disorders are already known to the system, a reform of the system could help repeat offenders stay on the right path, estimates a psychiatrist.
For the Dr Gilles Chamberland, these figures are high, since these people have already had to deal with the Examination Commission, which then assessed that they did not represent a risk of recidivism.
“The Examination Commission has a very specific criterion that it is obliged to apply […] The person must no longer present a significant risk to society, so if he does not represent a significant risk at the time he appears before the Review Commission, the Commission must, is obliged to release him,” a- he explained in an interview on LCN.
However, it is easy to show a low risk of recidivism before the Commission after having undergone forced treatment.
“Once released by the Review Commission, these people no longer have to answer to anyone,” underlined the Dr Chamberland.
According to him, it often happens that these people decide to stop their medication, wrongly believing they are able to control themselves, or fall back into drugs. However, once they are released, they must represent an imminent danger to be re-evaluated against their will.
“So, they are free and we are waiting [de voir] if they will not represent a danger again,” said the psychiatrist.
A possible solution?
Although it is difficult to do, the Dr Chamberland believes the law should be changed to resolve the problem.
By imposing stricter monitoring for a longer period after their release, we could ensure that these people adequately comply with their treatment, thus preventing the risk of recidivism.
