Course Corrections: National Summit on Mental Health & Criminal Justice Law & Policy
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)
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.
Courts
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.
Trueblood et al v. Washington State DSHS: Background and Recent Developments
Corrections & Ending the Use of Solitary Confinement
Vera Institute Alternatives to Solitary Confinement
Guiding Principles for the Treatment of the Incarcerated Mentally Ill; ASCA
National Religious Campaign Against Torture (NRCAT) on the Mandela Rules
Michele Deitch and Prison Oversight:
- Special Populations and the Importance of Prison Oversight
- The Need for Independent Prison Oversight in a Post-PLRA World
- Distinguishing the Various Functions of Effective Prison Oversight
- Independent Correctional Oversight Mechanisms Across the United States: A 50-State Inventory
- American Bar Association: “Key 14 Requirements for the Effective Monitoring of Correctional and Detention Facilities”
- No Prisoner Left Behind: Enhancing Public Transparency of Penal Institutions; (2014) Andrea Armstrong
Fact Sheet: Department of Justice Review of Solitary Confinement
Department of Justice: Report and Recommendations Concerning the Use of Restrictive Housing
Durbin: First-Of-Its-Kind Report On Solitary Confinement Shows Need For More Improvement
Policy & Culture Change
Beyond Awareness of Stigma: Moving Public Understanding to the Next Level (2017); Frameworks Institute
Talking About Child Mental Health in Tennessee; Frameworks Institute
Celebrity Human Rights Champions
Reentry
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)
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.
Additional Reading:
Addiction and Mental Health vs. Physical Health: Analyzing Disparities in Network Use and Provider Reimbursement Rates (2016); Melek, Perlman, & Davenport
The Asylum the Prison the Future of Community Mental Health (2017); Terry A. Kupers, M.D., M.S.P.
Treating Justice Involved Persons with Mental Illness: Preliminary Evaluation of a Comprehensive Treatment Program (2014); Morgan, et al.
Mental Health and Justice System Involvement: A Conceptual Analysis of the Literature (2014); McCormick, Peterson-Badali, & Skilling
Mentally Ill Individuals in Prison and Jail (2016); Edward P. Mulvey and Carol A. Schubert
Essays and Blogs from Marc Levin, Vice President, Right on Crime and Texas Public Policy Foundation