Advancing Corrections Journal - Edition #9 - Management and Treatment of the Mentally Ill and Mentally Unwell in Corrections (ACJ9-A007)

Article 7: Mental Health Service Delivery In Canadian Federal Prisons-A Prison Ombudsman’s Perspective (ACJ9-A007)

Abstract

This article looks at the challenges faced by the federal correctional system in Canada as it responds to a growing population of inmates with mental health needs. Adopting the position that access to mental health care is a human rights issue, the article situates the legal, policy, and operational contexts (and constraints) in which mental health services are delivered in Canadian federal prisons. It then offers some reflections on prison health care reform in Canada, and how these reforms measure up to international standards, specifically, the Mandela Rules. The article draws from previous investigations conducted by the Office of the Correctional Investigator to identify areas of concern, and to offer practical directions for reform.

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Authors

Dr. Ivan Zinger

Adjunct Professor, Carleton University, Canada

Dr. Ivan Zinger received his degree in Common Law from the University of Ottawa in 1992, and completed his articles of clerkship at the Federal Court of Canada. In 1999, he obtained his Ph.D. at Carleton University (Ottawa) in Psychology of Criminal Conduct. He is an Adjunct Professor with the Law Department at Carleton University. Dr. Zinger joined the Public Service of Canada in 1996. He held a variety of senior managerial, policy and research positions in public safety-related federal departments and agencies. In 2004, he joined his current employer, the Office of the Correctional Investigator (Federal Prison Ombudsman), and in 2009 he became the Executive Director and General Counsel. On January 1, 2017, Dr. Zinger was appointed as Correctional Investigator of Canada pursuant to section 161 of the Corrections and Conditional Release Act, and he was reappointed for a 5-year term on January 1, 2018.

Emad Talisman

Policy and Research Analyst, Correctional Investigator of Canada, Canada

Emad Talisman holds an Honours degree in Psychology from Mount Saint Vincent University, and completed his Master degree in Experimental Forensic Psychology in 2016. During the later part of his Master’s program, he worked in the Research Branch at the Correctional Service of Canada as a student. In 2016, Mr. Talisman began his career in the public service and held various research and policy positions at Public Safety Canada, exclusively within the domain of corrections and crime prevention. In 2018, Mr. Talisman was hired as a Policy and Research Analyst for the Correctional Investigator of Canada.

Advancing Corrections Journal - Edition #9 - Management and Treatment of the Mentally Ill and Mentally Unwell in Corrections (ACJ9-A007)

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