Mental Health

Announcements

2013 National Alliance on Mental Health (NAMI) National Convention

On June 27-30, the City of San Antonio will host the 2013 National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) National Convention, which will bring together nearly 2,000 attendees to discuss mental health issues, network, and gain inspiration. There are over 75 [...]

Two Second Chance Act Solicitations Released

Bureau of Justice Assistance Releases Second Chance Act Comprehensive Statewide Adult Recidivism Reduction Planning Program Grant Solicitation The U.S. Department of Justice’s Bureau of Justice Assistance recently released the solicitation for the Second Chance Act Comprehensive Statewide Adult Recidivism Reduction [...]

Webinars

NRRC Webinar Innovations in Substance Abuse Treatment

Presenters review how adopting a “continuing care model” to treat substance use disorders can improve outcomes for individuals who are justice involved. Presenters also provide an overview of medications for the treatment of alcohol and opioid addiction, including how specific [...]

Mental Health Courts Research Roundup: Applying Research to Practice

This webinar, held on March 26th, 2013, provided an overview of emerging research about mental health courts and discussed its implications for mental health court practitioners and policymakers. During the webinar, mental health court researchers shared their findings and facilitated [...]

Effective Case Planning Strategies

Case plans provide a structured approach that helps supervising officers and probationers/parolees negotiate daily activities and achieve central reentry objectives. Effective case plans are dynamic instruments that organize a parolee or probationer’s behavioral expectations and are adapted according to his [...]

legislative-executive-policymakers300x300

Recidivism Reduction Checklists: A Resource for State Corrections Agencies

Three checklists will be introduced during the webinar, each tailored to distinct audiences: Executive and Legislative Policymakers State Corrections Administrators State Reentry Coordinators During this invitation-only event, a distinguished panel of state corrections directors, policy staff, and state reentry coordinators [...]

Responding to the Second Chance Act Adult Grant Program

On January 22, 2013, the U.S. Department of Justice’s Bureau of Justice Assistance released the fiscal year 2013 solicitation for the Second Chance Act Adult Mentoring and Transitional Services for Successful Reentry Program. Nonprofit organizations and federally recognized Indian tribes [...]

Justice and Mental Health Collaboration Program Applicant

On January 24, 2013, the Department of Justice’s Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA) released Justice and Mental Health Collaboration Program (JMHCP) grant applications. On February 19, 2013, the Council of State Governments Justice Center (CSG Justice Center) hosted a webinar [...]

Engaging and Involving Families of Justice-Involved Youth

This webinar, presented by the CSG Justice Center, features practical approaches to increasing and improving family engagement and involvement in the juvenile justice system. With support from the MacArthur Foundation, the National Center for Mental Health and Juvenile Justice has [...]

Publications

Presumptive Eligibility: New Options in 2014

Successfully connecting millions of Americans to health coverage starting in October 2013 will require many different outreach and enrollment strategies. Hospitals and other human services providers will play a critical role in enrolling the uninsured, and beginning in 2014, they will [...]

EBP Checklist Cover

A Checklist for Implementing Evidence-Based Practices and Programs for Justice-Involved Adults with Behavioral Health Disorders

The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration’s GAINS Center for Behavioral Health and Justice Transformation and the Council of State Governments Justice Center have prepared this easy-to-use checklist to help behavioral health agencies assess their utilization of evidence-based practices associated with positive public safety and public health outcomes.

The Affordable Care Act and Criminal Justice: Intersections and Implications

Various provisions of the Affordable Care Act—including the expansion of Medicaid, investments to be made in health information technology, establishment of health insurance exchanges, and minimum essential coverage—have direct and indirect implications for criminal justice. Success in implementing the Affordable [...]

Recent headlines

Mental Health Court in the Tri-Cities

KENNEWICK, Wash. — It’s supposed to help prisoners and save you money at the same time — Mental Health Court. It could be the newest program coming to the Tri-Cities. Thursday night in Kennewick, a group of individuals who work [...]

Brain injuries plague city jail inmates

The New York World By Maura R. O’Connor Health officials have discovered a disturbing trend among adolescents incarcerated at Rikers Island — an extremely high prevalence of traumatic brain injuries. In Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (DOHMH) study conducted [...]

Feds: Pa. Prison Misused Solitary Confinement

The Associated Press HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) — A federal civil rights investigation has concluded that a state prison in western Pennsylvania kept inmates with serious mental illness in solitary confinement for months or even years at a time. The State [...]

Cheshire County makes strides with a new drug court

The Sentinel Source The recent effort to start a felony-level drug court in Cheshire County is a reflection of growing emphasis nationwide on rehabilitating criminals. With emerging information showing these specialized courts contribute to safer communities while saving taxpayer dollars, [...]

DOJ recounts ‘disturbing’ abuse of mentally ill at Pa. prison

The Hill By Megan R. Wilson A Pennsylvania state prison imposed violated the Constitution and imposed “cruel and unusual punishments” on prisoners with mental illnesses and intellectual disabilities, according to a Justice Department document released Friday. In a 39-page letter [...]

Drug court to open in Marshfield

News-Herald Media By Liz Welter The success of the adult drug treatment court based in Wisconsin Rapids has led to the creation of a similar court in Marshfield, slated to begin late this year. The court is a voluntary program [...]

Sequestration cuts put Veterans Court plans on hold

Living Lake Country By Steve Garrison Plans for a specialized, multi-county Veterans Treatment Court, meant to serve men and women of the armed forces who through criminal offenses find their way into the court system, have been put on hold. [...]

Yakima County Mental Health Court begins with one participant

KIMA TV By Sarah Navoy YAKIMA, Wash. — Yakima County’s Mental Health Court has had a little trouble getting out of the gate. Managers wanted 10 prisoners in the pilot program. Right now, there’s only one signed up to get [...]