CASE: Tom Marks, a 26-year old man recently released from Joyceville Institution, has just been reunited with his family who has settled down in Kingston during his incarceration. For the past month, he had trouble finding a job and is becoming convinced that with his criminal record, it will be impossible. One day, he walks into your clinic with a cold. During the interview, you discover that he has been feeling sad for some time and has not had the energy to get out of bed in the morning to continue his job search. He is feeling hopeless about ever being employed again and does not know what to do. He turns to you for advice.

The John Howard Society (JHS) is a national agency which provides services for newly released inmates.  The John Howard Society branch in Kingston primarily provides employment aid services to newly released inmates.  In addition, their Institutional Services councillors provide counselling, general information on human rights for prisoners while incarcerated, and also operates family support groups for their relatives. A youth tutoring program (Youth Academic Intervention program) for children who have an incarcerated parent is also available through the JHS.

Newly released inmates are most often referred to JHS by parole officers, through referrals from other community agencies, and/or the police.  JHS can also be contacted via a toll-free number during regular working hours.  The JHS recognizes that the first two weeks post-release are a critical time and their Intake program ensures that released inmates receive social support immediately upon release.  Beyond this critical time period, JHS provides employment counselling, access Equi-Pass (a program which provides computer and soft training for $20/year with the goal of improving the skills of their clientele) and helps its clients gain access to Ontario Works. 

Newly released inmates are also often affected by infectious diseases such as HIV and Hepatitis C, as well as addiction and mental health issues.  JHS helps provide referrals for newly released inmates to local family physicians, city agencies such as Street Health, and if necessary, Frontenac Community Mental Health Centre (FCMHC).

In helping to provide access to medical care, the means to upgrade soft skills and to attain employment, the JHS plays an important role in supporting the inmate population both pre- and post-prison release.  Physicians who work with such a population should be aware of the services available through the JHS to facilitate access and to better support their patients.

THE CASE REVISITED: One month after his referral to the John Howard Society, Tom comes back to you for a follow-up visit. He tells you that, although he has not yet found a job, he has been in contact with one of the employment counsellors at JHS, who has helped him write a resume and apply for more jobs.  He has also been taking a course through JHS’ Equipass service to enhance his computer skills. In the meantime, Tom has applied for Ontario Works benefits. His 9-year old daughter has joined the JHS’s Youth Academic Intervention program, where a tutor meets with her weekly to help her with her homework. Compared to a month before, Tom is much more optimistic about what the future holds for him and his family.