Hamilton Mountain Coun. Terry Whitehead is calling on the provincial government to impose stricter security arrangements at the St. Joseph’s Healthcare forensic psychiatric unit.
At the July 13 city council meeting, Whitehead proposed that the Ontario government consider looking at forcing mental health patients to wear electronic bracelets with GPS tracking devices, but some of his council colleagues denounced the idea.
“Let’s be clear: When you are dealing with dangerous offenders and they are escaping fairly regularly, there will be a serious incident,” said Whitehead, who represents the area where the facility is located.
“The community deserves the highest level of safety, making this request reasonable. It really is about safety. The ankle bracelet is just a request.”
Whitehead also asked that the province conduct an independent review of all escapes from the facility.
Twenty-six patients have gone missing from the unit over the last three years. Whitehead said two of the three patients who escaped in the last month were identified as high-risk, violent offenders by the Ontario Review Board.
The board annually reviews the status of anyone who has been found to be not criminally responsible or unfit to stand trial due to a mental disorder.
The latest psychiatric patient to escape from the forensic unit occurred July 3 and was found in less than 24 hours.
Ward 4 Coun. Sam Merulla, a former addiction counsellor, said installing electronic bracelets on patients is “criminalizing mental health.”
Ward 3 Coun. Matthew Green agreed, saying there are “folks who think everybody should have them.” And Ward 1 Coun. Aidan Johnson was concerned such a practice could violate provincial laws.
“I would like to have good legal advice as to whether it is constitutional,” Johnson said.
Whitehead said his request for the province to examine the issue is just a feasibility study. But he said residents within the area are afraid of more escapes from the West 5th Street facility.
“Safety has to be paramount,” he said. “As good as St. Joseph's is, as good as the medical care they provide, they are not perfect. There is always room for improvement.”
Councillors agreed at the meeting to a compromise motion that asks the province to provide additional funding for more nurses and security personnel, as well as examine an “electronic security solution” and “enhance (the facility’s) perimeter security to prevent the risk of leaving the property.”
Hamilton Mountain Coun. Terry Whitehead is calling on the provincial government to impose stricter security arrangements at the St. Joseph’s Healthcare forensic psychiatric unit.
At the July 13 city council meeting, Whitehead proposed that the Ontario government consider looking at forcing mental health patients to wear electronic bracelets with GPS tracking devices, but some of his council colleagues denounced the idea.
“Let’s be clear: When you are dealing with dangerous offenders and they are escaping fairly regularly, there will be a serious incident,” said Whitehead, who represents the area where the facility is located.
“The community deserves the highest level of safety, making this request reasonable. It really is about safety. The ankle bracelet is just a request.”
Whitehead also asked that the province conduct an independent review of all escapes from the facility.
Twenty-six patients have gone missing from the unit over the last three years. Whitehead said two of the three patients who escaped in the last month were identified as high-risk, violent offenders by the Ontario Review Board.
The board annually reviews the status of anyone who has been found to be not criminally responsible or unfit to stand trial due to a mental disorder.
The latest psychiatric patient to escape from the forensic unit occurred July 3 and was found in less than 24 hours.
Ward 4 Coun. Sam Merulla, a former addiction counsellor, said installing electronic bracelets on patients is “criminalizing mental health.”
Ward 3 Coun. Matthew Green agreed, saying there are “folks who think everybody should have them.” And Ward 1 Coun. Aidan Johnson was concerned such a practice could violate provincial laws.
“I would like to have good legal advice as to whether it is constitutional,” Johnson said.
Whitehead said his request for the province to examine the issue is just a feasibility study. But he said residents within the area are afraid of more escapes from the West 5th Street facility.
“Safety has to be paramount,” he said. “As good as St. Joseph's is, as good as the medical care they provide, they are not perfect. There is always room for improvement.”
Councillors agreed at the meeting to a compromise motion that asks the province to provide additional funding for more nurses and security personnel, as well as examine an “electronic security solution” and “enhance (the facility’s) perimeter security to prevent the risk of leaving the property.”
Hamilton Mountain Coun. Terry Whitehead is calling on the provincial government to impose stricter security arrangements at the St. Joseph’s Healthcare forensic psychiatric unit.
At the July 13 city council meeting, Whitehead proposed that the Ontario government consider looking at forcing mental health patients to wear electronic bracelets with GPS tracking devices, but some of his council colleagues denounced the idea.
“Let’s be clear: When you are dealing with dangerous offenders and they are escaping fairly regularly, there will be a serious incident,” said Whitehead, who represents the area where the facility is located.
“The community deserves the highest level of safety, making this request reasonable. It really is about safety. The ankle bracelet is just a request.”
Whitehead also asked that the province conduct an independent review of all escapes from the facility.
Twenty-six patients have gone missing from the unit over the last three years. Whitehead said two of the three patients who escaped in the last month were identified as high-risk, violent offenders by the Ontario Review Board.
The board annually reviews the status of anyone who has been found to be not criminally responsible or unfit to stand trial due to a mental disorder.
The latest psychiatric patient to escape from the forensic unit occurred July 3 and was found in less than 24 hours.
Ward 4 Coun. Sam Merulla, a former addiction counsellor, said installing electronic bracelets on patients is “criminalizing mental health.”
Ward 3 Coun. Matthew Green agreed, saying there are “folks who think everybody should have them.” And Ward 1 Coun. Aidan Johnson was concerned such a practice could violate provincial laws.
“I would like to have good legal advice as to whether it is constitutional,” Johnson said.
Whitehead said his request for the province to examine the issue is just a feasibility study. But he said residents within the area are afraid of more escapes from the West 5th Street facility.
“Safety has to be paramount,” he said. “As good as St. Joseph's is, as good as the medical care they provide, they are not perfect. There is always room for improvement.”
Councillors agreed at the meeting to a compromise motion that asks the province to provide additional funding for more nurses and security personnel, as well as examine an “electronic security solution” and “enhance (the facility’s) perimeter security to prevent the risk of leaving the property.”