- 705-264-2933
- info@sabic.ca
- 221 3rd Ave Unit 106, Timmins, ON P4N 1C9
Court Diversion is a voluntary pre-trial procedure that may allow persons accused of minor criminal offences to be directed away from the criminal justice system.
➔ Canadian Mental Health Association (CMHA), Court Diversion and Support Program
➔ Canadian Mental Health Association Thunder Bay – Court Diversion Service – Ages 12 and over
➔ SpringBoard – Youth Court Action Planning Program (YCAPP) (Youth Justice Program)
➔ Peacebuilders Canada – Restorative Youth Circle Programs – Ages 12-18
➔ Elizabeth Fry Society Peel Halton – Court Support Services for Youth: Diversion – Ages 12-17
➔ Elizabeth Fry Society Peel Halton – Direct Accountability Program: Gender Specific Groups – Adults
➔ Central Toronto Youth Services – Early Release Support Program (Youth Justice)
➔ John Howard Society of Peterborough – Youth Diversion
➔ COTA inspiring change – Mental Health Court Support
➔ Margaret’s – Mental Health Diversion, Court Diversion
➔ Sound times – Mental Health Court Support and Diversion Services Release from Custody Services
➔ Youth Diversion – Youth Justice Program – Ages 12-17
➔ Youth Diversion Essex County Diversion Program – Youth Justice Committee – Ages 12-17
➔ Ontario Shores Centre for Mental Health Sciences – Mental Health Diversion Programs
➔ Community Justice Alternatives of Durham Region – Community Services Orders Program (Adult)
If you are charged with a crime, it is important to get legal help. These are resources which are available in Ontario to help people who have been charged with a criminal offence.
As the COVID-19 Pandemic continues, how you can access these services will continue to evolve. You can stay up to date with changes to Legal Aid Services, HERE. Be sure to check each organization’s website, which are linked below, to find out how to access legal support during the Pandemic.
If you need help connecting with any of the below resources, contact BIST info@bist.ca or 416-830-1485
A new initiative launched by lawyers in response to the COVID-19 Pandemic, which connects individuals to lawyers and provides 5 free hours of legal advice to anyone, regardless of income. Be prepared, there may be a delay in response to your request due to high volumes.
Website: https://natcanlaw.com
Email: info@natcanlaw.com
Duty Counsel provides free legal help for people who are low income who are eligible for Legal Aid. They are available in most courts in Ontario. They can help people who are in court without legal representation on the day of their court appearance. They do not provide long term legal representation.
Find a Duty Counsel Office, HERE.
Legal Aid Certificates can help pay for the cost of a lawyer. Once you have the certificate, you will need to find a lawyer who accepts legal aid. You can apply for a Legal Aid Certificate by calling Ontario’s Client Service Centre at 416-979-1446 OR 1-800-668-8258. Legal Aid is available to people who are low income and who have very few assets (such as owning a house). You can find out more about legal aid’s financial criteria, HERE.
You can find a lawyer – including lawyers who accept legal aid – by searching Legal Aid Ontario’s lawyer directory, HERE.
https://www.legalaid.on.ca/lawyers/
You can also call BIST or your Local Brain Injury Association for information.
BIST: 416-830-1485 OR info@bist.ca
http://obia.ca/abi-associations/
Some community legal clinics help with criminal law issues. Community Legal Clinics normally do not charge for services, but you may need to pay extra fees such as court filing or medical record fees. You need to access the legal clinic which serves your area. If that particular clinic offers criminal law services, they may be able to help you.
To find your local clinic, enter your postal code, HERE. [https://www.legalaid.on.ca/legal-clinics/]
Two Speciality Legal Clinics – community legal clinics which specialize in serving specific communities or areas of the law – provide criminal legal services. These are:
Aboriginal Legal Services of Toronto (ALST)
Legal help, legal education, and community development to Aboriginal people in Toronto. Website: www.aboriginallegal.ca
Phone Numbers: 416-408-3967; 416-408-4041; Toll-free: 1-844-633-2886
Black Legal Action Centre (BLAC)
Delivers legal aid to low or no income Black Ontarians.
Website: www.blacklegalactioncentre.ca
Phone Numbers: 416-597-5831; Toll-free: 1-877-736-9406
These community legal clinics, staffed by law students and supervised by licensed lawyers, provide criminal legal services to those who qualify. They are located in towns in Ontario where there is a university with a law school.
Queen’s Legal Aid – Queen’s University
Provides legal advice, assistance, and representation in matters relating to prison and parole in Kingston-area penitentiaries and Warkworth Institution.
Website: https://queenslawclinics.ca/prison-law
Phone: 613-533-2102
Community Legal Services – Western University
Represents those who have been charged with criminal offences, if they are scheduled to appear before a court in London.
Website: https://law.uwo.ca/legal_clinics/community_legal_services/index.html
Phone: 519-661-3352
University of Ottawa Community Legal Clinic
Free legal services to those who qualify financially, including criminal law.
Website: https://commonlaw.uottawa.ca/community-legal-clinic/about
Phone: 613-562-5600
Lakehead University Law Clinic
Represents individuals in minor criminal matters.
Website: https://www.lakeheadu.ca/programs/departments/law/clinic
Phone: 807- 346-7815 OR 1-833- 503-7815
Downtown Community Legal Services – University of Toronto
Legal representation to those who have been charged with a crime and who do not qualify for legal aid.
Website: http://downtownlegalservices.ca
Phone: 416-978-6447
Community & Legal Aid Services Program (CLASP) – York University
Represents people charged with criminal offences, including simple drug possession charges, record suspension applications and police complaints.
Website:https://www.osgoode.yorku.ca/community-clinics/welcome-community-legal-aid-services-program-clasp/
Phone: 416-736-5029
Community Legal Aid – University of Windsor
Provides legal support for people who have been turned down for a Legal Aid Certificate. Must show Legal Aid Ontario Rejection Letter to access services. Only handles less serious matters where there is no possibility of jail time. Does not represent clients charged with domestic violence, family member assaults or peace bonds regarding these matters.
Website: https://www.communitylegalaidwindsor.com
Phone: 519-253-7150
Court support programs assist people through the court process and can at times provide alternatives to conviction. These include services for people with mental health issues and / or addiction.
Elizabeth Fry Society
Provides support and court alternatives for women, youth and men, including allowing offenders to avoid criminal conviction under certain circumstances. Find your local Elizabeth Fry Society, HERE.
https://www.cefso.ca/members.html
John Howard Society of Ontario
Support services for men involved in the criminal justice system.
Find your local John Howard Society, HERE.
The purpose of Mental Health Court Support and Addiction Court Support services is to avoid jail terms for people who are accused of crimes, when there is a connection between the crime and the mental health issue or addiction, and the crime is not serious or violent in nature.
There are many court support services in Ontario for people dealing with mental health issues and / or addiction. They serve people who live in different areas of Ontario, who have specific conditions or needs.
To find Court Support Services, call Connex Ontario: 1-866-531-2600.
You can also search for Mental Health Support Services, HERE.
https://www.ementalhealth.ca/Ontario/Legal-and-Justice-Resources/index.php?m=heading&ID=65
You can also call:
211 Community Connection – Open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Dial 2-1-1.
Community Legal Education Ontario – CLEO
Websites providing legal information in clear language.
A person with a brain injury can register for a Medic Alert ID – when EMS arrives they can use this device to access your detailed medical profile – https://www.medicalert.ca
If living in Toronto you can also register for the Vulnerable Persons Registry – this is voluntary database with the Toronto Police that provides important information about yourself or someone you care for. Learn more or register here: https://www.torontopolice.on.ca/vulnerable-persons-registry/
