from yaprap December 2010-January 2011
by Jamie Alford
Shopfront Social Worker
Mental Health Legal Services Project Public Interest Advocacy Centre (PIAC)
The over-representation of young people living with mental illness in the criminal justice system is alarming. Diversionary measures rely largely on legal and mental health services working together. Many of these young people are facing multiple disadvantages and have complex needs. Far too often lawyers and mental health workers work in ‘silos’ and the criminal justice and mental health systems become disjointed for people living with a mental illness.
Many of the young people who access the Shopfront are experiencing one or more of a wide range of mental illnesses and intellectual disabilities. This is compounded by their complex histories of abuse, trauma, substance use and poverty. Many are frequently coming into contact with the legal system and are at risk of spending lengthy periods in custody. Often the offences they are involved in are highly influenced by their mental illness as well as other social issues for which they are not receiving support. In many cases these young people have slipped through the gaps of the mental health system, either because their mental illness has not been picked up or because services are too difficult to access.
PIAC's Mental Health Legal Services Project has placed a social worker, Jamie Alford, onsite at the Shopfront. This has provided a more integrated approach to service provision, demonstrating that collaboration within the legal and mental health sectors can provide better access to justice and improved mental health outcomes. According to Jane Sanders, Principal Solicitor at the Shopfront, “Having the Mental Health Legal Services Project Social Worker, Jamie Alford, placed at Shopfront has really helped with improving the legal outcomes for our clients.”
More information
Jamie Alford
- (02) 9322 4808
- www.piac.asn.au/project/mental-health-legal-services-project
The Shopfront Youth Legal Centre in inner city Sydney - provides free legal advice, education and legal representation to young people who are homeless and face multiple disadvantages.
- (02) 9322 4808
- shopfront@freehills.com
- www.theshopfront.org