Course Corrections: National Summit on Mental Health & Criminal Justice Law & Policy

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This event was hosted by Equitas in collaboration with the Georgetown University Prisons and Justice Initiative, the National Alliance on Mental Illness, the American Civil Liberties Union National Prison Project, the National Disability Rights Network, and the Treatment Advocacy Center, with additional participants from:

American Psychological Association
American Psychiatric Association
Colorado Department of Human Services
DC Prisoners’ Project
Disability Rights New York
Merage Foundations
The National Association of Social Workers
The National Council for Behavioral Health
The Sentencing Project
Southern Poverty Law Center
Texas Public Policy Foundation & Right on Crime

Goals:
This small group of national policy and legal experts met to build consensus regarding priorities and opportunities for action at the intersection of mental health and criminal justice in 2018. Participants have contributed to a national strategy document based on those priorities.

The cross-sector combination of people and partner organizations had an opportunity to network and share ideas throughout the participant-driven event. In the coming weeks, participants will collectively authorize strategic communications materials that Equitas and partners will use to help drive and track the progress of local and national initiatives.

Related Resources:

Housing, Education, Employment

Recovery After an Initial Schizophrenia Episode (RAISE) project has linked supported education and employment to improved outcomes.

Coverage and Care

The Way Forward: Federal Action for a System That Works for All People Living With SMI and SED and Their Families and Caregivers – Full Report; (2017), Interdepartmental Serious Mental Illness Coordinating Committee (ISMICC)

Citywide Case Management (San Francisco)

Recovery After an Initial Schizophrenia Episode (RAISE) project. RAISE is a large-scale research initiative that began with two studies examining different aspects of coordinated specialty care (CSC) treatments for people who were experiencing first episode psychosis. One study focused on whether or not the treatment worked better than care typically available in community settings. The other project studied the best way for clinics to start using the treatment program. Read more.

Medication Follows the Patient Proposal for Colorado PowerPoint; Patrick Fox, M.D.

Colorado Senate Bill 17-019: Medication Mental Illness in Justice Systems (Medication Consistency Bill)

Concrn App

Law Enforcement & Pretrial Diversion

DOJ Justice and Mental Health Grants

Ohio’s Proposed Reforms would make rehabilitation one of three factors weighed during sentencing, in addition to punishment and protecting public safety. They’re considered a good step toward reducing prison populations in the state.

Targeted Community Alternatives to Prison (T-CAP) grants “provide funds to local communities to effectively supervise, treat and hold accountable low-level, non-violent offenders, and at the same time safely reduce Ohio’s prison population.” Read the full article here.

SAMHSA LEAD Grants

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Courts

Performance Incentive Funding For Prison Diversion: An Implementation Evaluation of the Winnebago County Adult Redeploy Illinois Program

Incentivizing Results: Lessons From Other States’ Probation Funding Formula Reforms and Recommendations to Texas Lawmakers (TPPF)
The evidence is overwhelming. Incentivized probation results in more successful probation outcomes, and saves millions of dollars each year.

Corrections & Ending the Use of Solitary Confinement

Vera Institute Alternatives to Solitary Confinement

Guest Editorial for ASCA from Rick Raemisch (CO DOC) and Gary C. Mohr (OH DRC) on Restrictive Housing

Guiding Principles for the Treatment of the Incarcerated Mentally Ill; ASCA