People who have a mental illness and who come in contact with the law have special needs. The mental health system or the criminal justice system alone cannot always meet those needs. The forensic mental health system is the place where the mental health system and the criminal justice system meet. The forensic mental health system can be confusing for people who have a mental illness. The legal system can be intimidating and a client's freedom may be limited. Many new people may suddenly become involved in the client's life, including police, lawyers, judges, doctors and members of review...

Les personnes ayant une maladie mentale qui ont des demeles avec la justice ont des besoins particuliers et ni le reseau de soins en sante mentale ni l'appareil judiciaire ne peuvent subvenir a ces besoins de maniere isolee. Le systeme de services psychiatriques medico-legaux est le point de rencontre du systeme de sante mentale et du systeme de justice penale. Les personnes qui ont des problemes de sante mentale peuvent avoir de la difficulte a se retrouver au sein du systeme de services psychiatriques medico-legaux ou avoir des craintes a son egard. L'appareil judiciaire peut etre...