RESIDENT: From Courtroom to Clinic: The Role of the Compassionate Care Act in Shaping Substance Use Treatment for Forensic Patients
Presenting Author(s): Nidhi Malhi, Kalina Pashniak
Co-Author(s): Dr. Maryana Kravtsenyuk
Date and time: 21 Mar 2026 from 13:15 to 13:30
Location: Saddleback & Glacier
Learning Objectives
- Identify the core principles and legislative goals of Alberta's Compassionate Intervention Act (CIA) as they relate to forensic psychiatry and substance use treatment;
- Assess the practical and ethical implications of implementing the CIA within forensic settings, including barriers related to resources, stigma, and patient autonomy; and
- Discuss strategies for integrating recovery-oriented, interdisciplinary, and policy-informed approaches to improve outcomes for forensic patients under the CIA framework.
Abstract
The Compassionate Intervention Act (CIA) represents a pivotal shift in Alberta's approach to substance use, emphasizing treatment and recovery over punitive responses. Within Forensic Psychiatry, this legislation intersects with a particularly complex patient population, whose substance use disorders contribute to criminal behavior, recidivism, and sustained involvement with the justice system. This presentation explores the implications of the CIA for forensic patients, analyzing both opportunities and challenges in aligning treatment with legislative priorities.
The key opportunities include expanded access to evidence-based addiction services within forensic settings, greater integration of harm reduction practices, and improved continuity of care across correctional facilities, hospitals, and community programs. These provisions support the CIA's recovery- oriented framework and may help reduce costs by lowering rates of re-offending. Yet, implementation is not without barriers, as specialized resources remain limited, workforce shortages persist, and stigma toward forensic populations complicates equitable access to care. Additionally, legal tensions may arise in balancing patient autonomy with mandates for public safety.
As graduate and undergraduate trainees, we conducted a structured literature review and policy analysis, applying a methodical framework to evaluate how the CIA aligns with forensic psychiatric practice. Our approach emphasizes trainee-led scholarship and integrates clinical, legal, and policy perspectives.
In situating Forensic Psychiatry within the broader scope of the CIA, this presentation highlights the importance of interdisciplinary collaboration and policy-informed practice. The Act creates a rare opportunity to rethink addiction treatment for forensic patients, bridging courtroom mandates with clinical realities while navigating the layered legal obligations that define this field.
Literature References
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