Mentally ill homeless people keep going to jail. But a study says L.A. County can fix that
Corrections, Data, Housing, Jackie Lacey, Policy & Culture Change, Public SafetyOn a typical day, thousands of homeless and mentally ill people are behind bars in Los Angeles County’s jails. But more than half of them would be good candidates to divert into housing with supportive services instead, according a new...
National Leaders in Law Enforcement Agree on Mental Health and Justice System Solutions
Jackie Lacey, Judge Steven Leifman, Media Releases, National Advisors, Pat Nolan, J.D., UncategorizedThe nation’s first response to mental health crises is often dangerous for all involved, say experts. April 10, 2019 – (DENVER, COLO.) – The way we currently address mental health amounts to a public health crisis, say law enforcem...
Colorado Leaders Call for Action to Address Urgent Statewide Mental Health Needs
Douglas K. Wilson, In the News, Lisa M. Clements, Media Releases, Rick RaemischIndividuals with mental health and substance use concerns need access to earlier support and care, rather than criminalization and punishment. April 2, 2019 – (DENVER, COLO.) – Colorado leaders in mental health and criminal justice j...
Mario Drops New Visual/Song, Announces Partnership with Equitas
Blog, In the News, Media Releases, Policy & Culture ChangePublished on PR Web. Chart-Topping, multi-platinum selling, singer, songwriter, and actor, Mario premiered his stunning new introspective video for the emotionally-charged single, “Care For You” today with BET Soul and BET Her for broadc...
Equitas Executive Director Interviewed on Wrongful Conviction // Season 8 Episode 4 // Disentangling Mental Health & Criminal Justice
Corrections, Health Care, Policy & Culture Change, conviction, criminal, criminal justice, jason flom, justice, kelly grimes, mental health, vincent atchity, wrongful, wrongful convictionIn this compelling interview, Vincent Atchity and Kelly Grimes join Jason Flom for a candid discussion about the criminal justice system and how it fails to support Americans with mental health challenges. Vincent Atchity has served as ...
Equitas National Advisor Rick Raemisch Reduced Solitary Confinement in Colorado by 98%. He’s Just Been Named Public Official of the Year.
Blog, Corrections, National Advisors, Rick RaemischGoverning Magazine this year recognized Equitas National Advisor and Colorado Department of Corrections Director for ending the overuse of solitary confinement in the state. Some say it’s like being buried alive. The walls close in on ...
Law Enforcement Leaders Agree: Communities Must Step Up to Address Mental Health Needs Preventatively
Blog, Jackie Lacey, Judge Steven Leifman, Pat Nolan, J.D., Public SafetyOn November 13 and 14 in Los Angeles, the Equitas Project convened 90 leaders and decision-makers in law enforcement for the Course Corrections: National Law Enforcement Summit. Participants at the event included police chiefs, sheriffs,...
Judge Steven Leifman Receives Pardes Humanitarian Prize for Helping Thousands Towards Mental Health Instead of Incarceration
Blog, Jeffrey Borenstein, Judge Steven Leifman, Justice“Judge Leifman has accomplished something amazing. Thanks to Judge Leifman’s efforts people don’t go to jail but instead receive treatment so they can move forward with their lives in a healthier way.” –Dr. Jeffrey Borenstein, Pr...
Jailing people with mental illness is a national problem. The solutions are local.
Corrections, Health Care, In the News, Policy & Culture Change, Public Safety, ReentryThere are countless problems in this world that lack ready solutions. Jailing so many people with mental illness is not one of them. While it’s a national problem, addressing mental illness in America’s jails requires local people fi...
Coordination and Communication are Key to Improving Mental Health and Criminal Justice in America
Blog, Childhood, Corrections, Data, Education, Employment, Health Care, Housing, In the News, Justice, Media Releases, Policy & Culture Change, Public Safety, ReentryMental health and criminal justice are a tangled mess in communities all across the country. Rather than supporting health from childhood through old age, our social systems show hardly any signs of understanding mental health at all. We...