The theme chosen by the AQPV for this first edition is an extremely sensitive one. However, the adoption of the Act to amend the Criminal Code (mental disorders) on May 19, 2005, prompted the AQPV to take a closer look at the path taken by these victims and their families, who are forced to navigate between the health and justice systems.
The law also introduces new provisions concerning..:
- unfit to stand trial;
- non-criminal liability;
- Mental Health Review Board hearings;
- the Administrative Tribunal of Québec;
- the Act respecting the protection of persons whose mental state presents a danger to themselves or to others;
- estimating dangerousness;
- psychiatric assessments;
- the victim’s statement.
Since it’s easy to get lost in the shuffle, this dossier attempts to explain the role of the various bodies involved in helping people suffering from severe mental disorders, their families or their victims. It also hopes to unravel the mechanisms at their disposal. This task is made all the more arduous by the fact that the situations of victims and those close to them, the consequences of the actions taken, and the obstacles encountered remain largely undocumented.