The Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre Forensic Program serves adult individuals who come into conflict with the law and that may have a psychiatric disorder. The program serves Northwestern Ontario from the Manitoba border to White River. Both inpatient and outpatient services are provided.

Inpatient Services

The Forensic Program inpatient unit is an 20 bed secure adult unit. The mandate of inpatient services is to:

Fulfill legal requirements for Court ordered assessments of individuals with possible psychiatric disorders who are referred by the criminal justice system. Assess, treat and rehabilitate clients with psychiatric disorders who have been charged with a criminal offence and/or are under the jurisdiction of the Ontario Review Board. Make recommendations to the criminal justice system based on the client's history, clinical progress and current mental status. Assist clients to achieve their optimal level of biopsychosocial functioning for eventual community re-integration. Where appropriate, arrange adequate community follow-up and after care based on individual needs for designated forensic clients.

The forensic inpatient service provides extensive assessment, treatment and rehabilitation. Specific treatment plans are developed to meet individual client needs, which may include individual or group therapy that involves various clinical programming. Inpatient services are provided using a multidisciplinary team approach consisting of the following professional disciplines:

Psychiatry Nursing Social Work Psychology Occupational Therapy Leisure Life Skills Vocational Rehabilitation Nutrition Spiritual Care

Outpatient Services

Continuity of care continues with forensic outpatient services provided on site at TBRHSC. Individual follow-up is provided according to identified client needs and/or legal requirements. Consistent assessment, treatment, and on-going rehabilitation are provided for a designated forensic population. The Forensic Outpatient Program works closely with all relevant community agencies associated with the client.

In addition to the Forensic Outpatient Program, the Forensic Program provides the Northwestern Ontario Sexual Behaviours Program (NOSBP). Comprehensive assessment, treatment, and rehabilitation are provided as well as individual and group therapy to address various sexual behaviour issues. Referrals to this program are received by Probation and Parole, Children's Aid Society, Correctional Services, and by family physicians.

Mental Health Court Support services are offered at the Ontario Provincial Courthouse located on Arthur St. A designated Court support worker provides consultation and liaison to various officers of the Court, such as the Judiciary, Crown Attorneys, lawyers, police and Probation and Parole.

The Forensic Program also provides a Fitness Clinic at the Thunder Bay District Jail. Psychiatry as well as an additional member of the multidisciplinary team attends the jail one afternoon per week to conduct fitness assessments as ordered by the Courts.

For more information, please contact:

Rose Lazinski, R.N BScN
Forensic Program Manager
Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre
980 Oliver Road
Thunder Bay, Ontario
P7B 6V4
Phone: (807) 684-6464
Fax: (807) 684-5868
Email: lazinskr@tbh.net