The mother of an accused carjacker says her son should be in a hospital and not a jail cell while waiting for his court date.

Bradley Fagen has a history of psychotic episodes and has been in out of hospitals, halfway houses and jail.

“We are trying to get him the right help, because basically they are washing their hands. They put him on the streets. They put him in prison. He's not getting better – on the contrary,” said his mother.

When he was diagnosed with bipolar disorder and schizophrenia years ago, she said it hit the family hard.

“We needed a lot of help. As a parent, you don't know,” she said. “This is new to me. What do I do?”

The 26-year-old is once again behind bars while awaiting for his court date scheduled for next month.

In April, he allegedly stole a car. A high-speed chase with police ensued and it ended when they were able to arrest a man.

Fagen’s mother said that day, Bradley had just been released from the Jewish General Hospital.

She wonders why, especially since there was a court order to keep him there for up to 30 days.

According to her, Fagen had only been in the hospital for five.

“A few days later he walks into my house. He was released from high care to the streets. I open the door,” I couldn't believe it,” she said.

Before the alleged crime, her son’s condition had worsened, she said, once she'd told him she had been diagnosed with breast cancer

The family has filed a complaint against the hospital. The ombudsman has confirmed that the medical examiner will look into it.

In the meantime, the Jewish General Hospital said it cannot comment on a specific case.       

“It does happen that patients are being discharged prematurely, at least from the perspective of the family,” said Ella Amir, executive director for Ami-Quebec, an organization that helps families deal with mental illness.

“The patient is not stable, is not sufficiently coherent. I recognize and appreciate that hospitals have their own constraints,” Amir added, saying what is required is more support in the community.

“I think that problems, some of the behavioural problems, maybe part of some of the criminal offences, etc. could be reduced or minimized if we had sufficient… programs in the community, a good continuum of care. That could really accompany the person,” she said.