The 2010 International Conference
STRIVING TOWARDS EXCELLENCE
Treatment of special needs offenders in prisons, forensic psychiatric units and the community
September 19–22, 2010
Sheraton on the Falls – Niagara Falls, Ontario, Canada
Program
Sunday, September 19
9:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. — Pre-conference workshops
9:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. — Mental Health Courts: Putting a Human Face to the Administration of Justice
Co-chairs: Supreme Court Justice Matthew D’Emic, King County Supreme Court, Brooklyn, N.Y.; The Honourable Mr. Justice Richard D. Schneider, Ontario Court of Justice
Panel: Judge Paul Clark, Designated District Judge, West London, England; Judge David Orr, Provincial Court, Newfoundland, Canada; Judge David Simpson, West London Youth Court, England; Judge Ginger Lerner Wren and Janis Blenden, the Broward County Mental Health Court, Florida, U.S.A.; Dr. Greg Brown, Institute for Applied Social Research, Nipissing University; Joanne Capoozi, Crown Attorney’s Office Toronto; Samantha Buchy, Court Outreach Worker, CMHA Sudbury-Manitoulin, Ontario
Mental Health Court System
The unanswered question of what constitutes a mental health court or mental health court program has led to differences in the way courts operate. This workshop will examine issues contributing to these differences through presentations and discussions from six court sites: Ontario’s Toronto, Scarborough and Newmarket; Saint John, New Brunswick; London, England; and Florida, U.S.A.
10:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m. — Post-Gladue: Impact on Aboriginal Offenders
Presenter: Jonathan Rudin, Program Director, Aboriginal Legal Services of Toronto (ALST)
In 1999 the Supreme Court of Canada released its groundbreaking decision in R v. Gladue, directing judges to do what they could through the sentencing process to reduce Aboriginal over-representation in prison. The reach of Gladue has extended beyond sentencing and its principles apply to Aboriginal offenders in jail and through the parole process. This session will look at Gladue and the issue of Aboriginal over-representation generally, then examine some initiatives taken to see that Gladue becomes a reality in the criminal justice system, and look at opportunities and challenges to applying Gladue from admission through to parole.
5:00 – 7:00 p.m. — Opening conference reception
Welcome comments by Morris Zbar, Board of Directors, International Institute on Special Needs Offenders and Policy Research (Canada)
Monday, September 20
Day 1 Moderator: Glenn Thompson, Board of Directors, International Institute on Special Needs Offenders and Policy Research (Canada)
8:00 – 9:00 a.m. — Buffet breakfast
9:00 – 9:15 a.m. — Welcome and Introductions
Michael Phillips, Chair, International Institute on Special Needs Offenders & Policy Research (Canada)
Opening Ceremony/Elder Prayer
Renee Thomas-Hill, Elder, Mohawk, Turtle Clan member
Six Nations
9:15 – 9:35 a.m. — Opening Keynote Address:
STRIVING TOWARDS EXCELLENCE – Treatment of Special Needs Offenders in Prisons, Forensic Psychiatric Units and the Community
9:35 – 9:45 a.m. — International Institute on Special Needs Offenders, UK – Welcome and Update
Mike Farrar (DVD presentation)
9:45 – 10:30 a.m. — Emerging Issues in Aboriginal Corrections & Community Participation
Allen Benson, Chief Executive Office, Native Counselling Services of Alberta
10:30 – 11:00 a.m. — Refreshments
11:00 – 11:45 a.m. — Plenary Session
Joel A. Dvoskin, Forensic Psychologist, University of Arizona, College of Medicine
11:45 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. — Perceptions of a Practitioner: Prison-based Mental Health Issues in Australia and Kenya
Glenn Ross, Associate Professor, School of Law and Justice, Edith Cowan University, Perth, Australia
12:30 – 1:30 p.m. — Lunch
1:30 – 2:30 p.m. — Concurrent Sessions (8)
2:30 – 3:00 p.m. — Refreshments
3:00 – 4:00 p.m. — Concurrent Sessions (8)
4:15 – 5:00 p.m. — Response from the Bench
The Honourable Justice Annemarie E. Bonkalo, Chief Justice of the Ontario Court of Justice; The Honourable Mr. Justice Richard D. Schneider, Ontario Court of Justice
6:00 – 9:00 p.m. — Evening on own (Visit niagarafallstourism.com for list of local activities)
Tuesday, September 21
Day 2 Moderator: Dr. Steve Wormith, Chair of Forensic Psychology, University of Saskatchewan / Board of Directors, International Institute on Special Needs Offenders and Policy Research (Canada)
8:00 – 9:00 a.m. — Buffet breakfast
9:00 – 9:45 a.m. — Responding to the Special Needs of Offenders in a Constantly Changing Environment
Don Head, Commissioner, Correctional Service Canada
9:45 – 10:30 a.m. — A Unit for Special Needs Offenders: The Challenges of Combining Healthcare and Corrections Philosophy
John Bradford, Associate Chief, Integrated Forensic Program of the Royal Ottawa Health Care Group Brockville Mental Health Centre
10:30 – 11:00 a.m. — Refreshments
11:00 – 11:45 a.m. — Research – A Key Requirement for Excellence in Treatment and Programming
Brian A. Grant, Director General, Research, Policy Sector, Correctional Service Canada
11:45 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. — Cikema: We have to Confirm What We Cannot Reasonably Doubt
Madeleine K.D. Stout, President, Dion Stout Reflections Inc.; board member Mental Health Commission of Canada
12:30 – 1:30 p.m. — Lunch
1:30 – 2:30 p.m. — Concurrent Sessions (8)
2:30 – 3:00 p.m. — Refreshments
3:00 – 4:00 p.m. — Concurrent Sessions (8)
4:00 – 4:15 p.m. — Refreshments
4:15 – 5:15 p.m. — Concurrent Sessions (8)
6:30 – 9:30 p.m. — Conference Gala Dinner Banquet
Valerie Pringle, award-winning television broadcaster
Sponsored by 
Wednesday, September 22
Day 3 Moderator: Marg Welch, Regional Director – Adult Institutional Services, Western Region, Ministry of Community Safety & Correctional Services
8:00 – 9:00 a.m. — Buffet breakfast
9:00 – 9:45 a.m. — The National Parole Board – Addressing the Special Needs of Offenders and Victims in Parole Hearings
Harvey J. Cenaiko, Chairperson, National Parole Board (NPB)
9:45 – 10:30 a.m. — Principles of Effective Treatment: The Challenges
Don Andrews, Professor Emeritus, Department of Psychology, Carleton University
10:30 – 11:00 a.m. — Refreshments
11:00 – 11:45 a.m. — The Impact of Imprisonment on Women and Their Children
Grace Anyango Joshua, Assistant Commissioner of Prisoners, Langata Women Prison, Kenya
11:45 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. — Closing Remarks
Pauline Radley, Board of Directors, International Institute on Special Needs Offenders & Policy Research (Canada)
2011 International Conference on Emerging Best Practices for Special Needs Offenders – Nairobi, Kenya
His Excellency Simon W. Nabukwesi, High Commission of Kenya, Canada
Closing Ceremony/Elder Prayer
Renee Thomas-Hill, Elder, Mohawk, Turtle Clan member, Six Nations
Conference ends; lunch on own
You can now register online (credit cards only) to attend the 2010 conference. To register by mail or fax click here to download a printable PDF form.
Click here to download a PDF version of the 2010 program