Alicia Gordon has faced various legal issues, including property crimes and break-ins, while also battling substance abuse. She spent time in jail between 2019 and 2021 until she engaged with a bail verification and supervision program (BVSP) facilitated by the John Howard Society, which provided her with the necessary support to achieve sobriety.
In light of anticipated federal legislation aiming to overhaul the bail system, a recent report by the John Howard Society of Ontario urges the province to expand the BVSP, including bail beds, to more locations statewide. Safiyah Husein, the society’s policy director, emphasizes the importance of offering non-violent offenders the best chance to comply with their bail conditions.
Husein notes that a significant portion of individuals in provincial jails are legally innocent, awaiting trial or bail hearings, and often face complex social and health challenges such as mental health issues, addiction, homelessness, and poverty. The report gathered input from police services, lawyers, and community agencies across the province to address bail system shortcomings.
The BVSP program allows individuals awaiting trial to be released into the community while receiving support services. It serves as an alternative to surety, providing assistance with employment, housing, mental health, and addiction issues. According to Husein, the program boasts a high success rate, with most clients attending court dates and completing the program without breaching conditions.
Additionally, the program offers bail beds statewide, ensuring individuals without housing upon release have 24/7 supervision in a shelter environment. Expanding such programs could enhance system outcomes and alleviate pressures on jails, police, and courts, Husein asserts.
Kara Hart, CEO at the John Howard Society of Peel-Halton-Dufferin, explains that BVSPs are tailored based on the individual’s risk level and history of repeat offenses. Early intervention through the program leads to positive results and reduces the likelihood of court no-shows or threats to public safety.
According to Nicole Myers, a criminology professor at Queen’s University, providing support instead of surveillance to individuals grappling with housing, mental health issues, or substance abuse reduces the risk of non-compliance and allows the system to focus on more serious offenders. Myers emphasizes the importance of detention for individuals charged with severe crimes.
In response to the report, a statement from Julia Facca, press secretary for Ontario’s Attorney General Doug Downey, indicates the government’s commitment to safeguarding communities and advocating for substantial bail reform at the federal level. Alicia Gordon, a beneficiary of the program, credits it for helping her maintain sobriety, secure employment, build a lasting relationship, and reunite with her children.
