By Adam Carter, CBC News
Posted: Oct 6, 2012 12:50 PM ET
Last Updated: Oct 6, 2012 12:56 PM ET
Hamilton police say they're trying something new when it comes to catching criminals.
They call it the Social Navigation Project, which was created because police say they end up continuously encountering repeat offenders or people who are "at risk" of becoming involved in criminal behavior.
This project tries to break that cycle and get people hooked up with social services instead of jail time.
'That's our job — to help people other than just shoving them into the judicial system'—Acting Staff Sgt. Tina Potter
It's a joint effort between police, Hamilton EMS, the Neighbourhood Development Office and Public Health and Community Services.
"It is important to prevent and break the cycle of arresting, re-arresting and respectively handing out tickets for the same infractions to the same people as clearly this strategy is less effective for anybody involved," said Hamilton Police Chief Glenn De Caire. "In order for the ACTION strategy to be completely effective, a system needed to be created to help link these individuals with the appropriate services after coming in to contact with police."
Repeat offenders can be a strain on police and ambulance services. Police identified one man who has had 48 dealings with police and 14 with EMS from January 2011 to July 2012.
Those dealings include arrests for breach of bail conditions, mental health issues, many liquor licence and trespassing offences, as well as several trips to St Josephs.
According to police, they spent about 115 hours on this one man over that period of seven months.
But since the Social Navigation Project stepped in to find services to help, he's only been the cause of one call, police say.
"Really, that's our job — to help people other than just shoving them into the judicial system," said Tina Potter, the acting Staff Sergeant of community mobilization.
Police say a "successful navigation" happens when another agency takes the lead to provide treatment and support for an individual so there is decrease in police involvement.
So far, the program has been attempted with 28 people in Hamilton. Sixteen people have been "successfully navigated," with six more "active cases" and four people declining to take part.
"We are very encouraged by the early result of the program," said Paul Johnson, the city of Hamilton's director of neighbourhood development strategies.
"The diversion rate is higher than expected and shows the need to continue the partnership to keep this project moving forward."
On Thursday, @hpsactionteam4 will live tweet the Social Navigation Program from the streets of Hamilton.
Follow @hpsactionteam4 from 9 a.m until noon to join in on the conversation.
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