Canadian man with Down syndrome finally released after two weeks in jail

From Ottawa Citizen in Canada:

OTTAWA -- A 30-year-old man with Down syndrome and bipolar disorder was released from custody Feb. 11 after spending more than two weeks in a segregated
cell at the Ottawa-Carleton Detention Centre.

Karl Gauthier is charged with assault after an alleged incident last month involving a worker at his Nation Township group home.

He was released into the same home after an apartment in an outbuilding was prepared for him.

The decision to have Mr. Gauthier released was reached on consent at a L’Orignal courthouse.

“Everyone agreed,” John Hale, his lawyer, said. “It was just a question of taking the time to set this up.”

The complainant in the alleged incident is now working at another home, and some of the staff have been trained specifically for Mr. Gauthier’s needs, he said.

At the detention centre, Mr. Gauthier faced conditions described by some as horrific.

Some have said Mr. Gauthier’s case highlights a gap in the criminal justice system, since people who suffer from fairly serious mental illness don’t always fall into the categories of unfit to stand trial or not criminally responsible for the alleged crime, which would allow them to be admitted to the Royal Ottawa Mental Health Centre.

Mr. Gauthier will appear in court March 10 to face assault charges in two separate incidents at the home.