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Stepping Up Initiative Expands Push for Counties to Collect Data on Number of People in Jails Who Have Mental Illnesses
The Stepping Up initiative recently launched a national effort to help counties collect accurate, accessible data on the number of people entering their jails who have mental illnesses. -
Available Now! 50-State Data on Public Safety Workbooks
Officials from every state contributed to the research effort that culminated in these workbooks, which were developed to provide a framework for discussions that took place at the 50-State Summit on Public Safety held in November 2017 in Washington, DC. -
10-Year Anniversary of the Second Chance Act Celebrated on Capitol Hill
As policymakers continue to focus on the importance of safe and successful reentry among people leaving prisons and jails, a group of national leaders paused recently to reflect on the impact of the Second Chance Act. -
WATCH: Nebraska Gov. Ricketts Connects Face to Face with Corrections Officers and Reentry Program Participants
Since the initiative’s launch late last year, a bipartisan group of 13 governors—7 Republicans, 6 Democrats—have participated in Face to Face events. -
White House Hosts Governors and Business Executives to Discuss Benefits of Hiring People Who Have Criminal Records
The White House, joined by a bipartisan pair of governors, recently led a discussion with businesses executives on the challenges and benefits of hiring people who have criminal records.
Stepping Up Initiative Expands Push for Counties to Collect Data on Number of People in Jails Who Have Mental Illnesses
Recent CSG Justice Center Posts
Pennsylvania Reinvests Savings to Bolster Local Public Safety Goals
In the past five years, Pennsylvania has saved more than $96 million as a result of justice reinvestment policies and reinvested more than $18 million of those savings in county-based projects to improve public safety outcomes.
Outagamie Mental Health Court Celebrates Six Years of Cross-System Collaboration Benefitting Participants, Community
“Part of the success of this has been an openness to identifying how we can do things differently in our community when it comes to mental health care and the criminal justice system,” said Paula Verrett, a NAMI recovery specialist who has worked directly with the OCMHC since its inception.
Reentry Essentials: Addressing Mental Health Needs among People in the Criminal Justice System
A disproportionate number of people in the nation’s criminal justice system face mental health issues: a Bureau of Justice Statistics report found, for example, that people in U.S. prisons and jails are three to five times more likely to experience serious psychological distress than the general adult population. While there is an overwhelming need to provide effective treatment, challenges exist in quantifying the extent of that need and taking a strategic approach across systems—from law enforcement to community-based reentry services.
Stepping Up Initiative Expands Push for Counties to Collect Data on Number of People in Jails Who Have Mental Illnesses
The Stepping Up initiative recently launched a national effort to help counties collect accurate, accessible data on the number of people entering their jails who have mental illnesses. As part of the effort, seven rural and urban “Innovator Counties” have been selected as models for their expertise in accurately identifying these individuals and consistently collecting data on them.
10-Year Anniversary of the Second Chance Act Celebrated on Capitol Hill
As policymakers continue to focus on the importance of safe and successful reentry among people leaving prisons and jails, and with President Trump designating April 2018 “Second Chance Month,” a group of national leaders paused recently to reflect on the impact of the Second Chance Act—a law passed in 2008 that has supported work to improve reentry outcomes in communities throughout the country.
Baltimore County to Further Improve Crisis Response System Based on Independent Assessment
The Baltimore County, Maryland, county executive recently released a report that provides recommendations for the county to better position its police-mental health collaboration (PMHC), the Baltimore County Crisis Response System, to provide an effective and comprehensive response that is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week, and maximizes both public safety and health outcomes.
Highlights
- Colorado Launches Comprehensive Review of Juvenile Justice System
- U.S. Senators Express Support for Vital Justice Programs
- Vermont and Ohio Kick Off State Forums on Public Safety
- Governors Take Action to Launch National Initiative Promoting Connections with People Closest to Correctional System
- Four Tips from Idaho for Overhauling Correctional Programming
Announcements
Register for Webinar: Reducing the Number of People with Mental Illnesses Booked into Jails
Join the Stepping Up partners for the first webinar in the four key measures series, where a national expert and representatives from Pima County, AZ, will provide an overview of each of the key measures, describe strategies for reducing the number of jail bookings for people who have mental illnesses, and outline data points to collect, analyze, and track over time.
Apply Now: Family Drug Court Research and Evaluation Program
The program provides funding to inform the development of and improvements to family drug courts designed to address parental substance addiction and promote family reunification.
Apply Now: Comprehensive Opioid Abuse Site-Based Program
The program provides funding to help agencies plan and implement comprehensive programs in response to the growing opioid epidemic.
WEBINARS
Responding to the 2018 Second Chance Act Improving Reentry for Adults with Co-occurring Substance Abuse and Mental Illness Solicitation
In this webinar, representatives from the U.S. Department of Justice’s Bureau of Justice Assistance and the National Reentry Resource Center review the FY18 Improving Reentry for Adults with Co-occurring Substance Abuse and Mental Illness application process.
Responding to the 2018 Second Chance Act Adult Reentry and Employment Solicitation
In this webinar, representatives from the U.S. Department of Justice’s Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA) and the National Reentry Resource Center review the new grant program on adult reentry and employment.
How Community-Based Behavioral Health Treatment Providers Can Develop and Implement Collaborative Comprehensive Case Plans
This webinar focusses on a community-based behavioral health treatment provider as the lead case planner. The webinar feature the reentry programs of Bridgeway Recovery Services in Salem, Oregon.
Responding to the 2018 Solicitation for the Justice and Mental Health Collaboration Program
In this webinar, representatives from the U.S. Department of Justice’s Bureau of Justice Assistance and the CSG Justice Center review the FY2018 Justice and Mental Health Collaboration Program grant application process.
Responding to the 2018 SCA Addressing the Needs of Incarcerated Parents with Minor Children Solicitation
In this webinar, representatives from the U.S. Department of Justice’s Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention and the National Reentry Resource Center review the Addressing the Needs of Incarcerated Parents with Minor Children grant program and application process.
PUBLICATIONS
Justice Reinvestment in Missouri: Policy Framework
The final report of the CSG Justice Center outlines policy recommendations developed in collaboration with the Missouri Justice Reinvestment Task Force. Among other things, these policies aim to reduce violent crime, increase the availability and effectiveness of community-based treatment for substance addiction and mental illnesses for people in the criminal justice system, and reduce recidivism.
Transforming Juvenile Justice Systems to Improve Public Safety and Youth Outcomes
This publication from the CSG Justice Center and the Center for Juvenile Justice Reform at Georgetown University’s McCourt School of Public Policy provides a roadmap of six innovative strategies that states and localities can follow to make sweeping changes to their juvenile justice systems.
Justice Reinvestment: How States Use Data to Design Innovative Strategies to Reduce Crime, Recidivism, and Costs
State policymakers are grappling with upticks in violent crime, the opioid epidemic, people who have mental illnesses in the justice system, high rates of recidivism, and the high cost of corrections, all while trying to improve services for victims and increase opportunities for people returning to communities from jail and prison. To tackle these issues, more than 25 states have partnered with the CSG Justice Center to use a justice reinvestment approach.
Baltimore County, Maryland: A Police-Mental Health Collaboration Assessment
In September 2016, Baltimore County, Maryland’s county executive asked the CSG Justice Center to conduct an independent assessment of its law enforcement and behavioral health collaboration, the Baltimore County Crisis Response System, which helps the county respond to people who have behavioral health needs. This report describes the assessment’s methodology, highlights key findings, and discusses those recommendations and strategies.
Dauphin County, Pennsylvania: A County Justice and Mental Health Systems Improvement Project
Based on a quantitative and qualitative analysis, and with the guidance of members of the county’s Criminal Justice Advisory Board and other senior county and state leaders, five key findings were identified that prompted the development of a set of strategic policy recommendations to improve outcomes for people in Dauphin County’s criminal justice system who have SMI. This report includes the key findings and policy recommendations.
JUSTICE CENTER IN THE NEWS
Counties Across the Country Participate in National Stepping Up Day of Action
During this Day of Action, county officials are hosting events or participating in local activities to share with constituents the progress made in addressing the prevalence of people who have mental illnesses in jails; raise public awareness and understanding of this important issue; and emphasize their commitment to creating data-driven, systems-level changes to policy and practice to achieve Stepping Up goals.
Colorado Launches Comprehensive Review of Juvenile Justice System
“Kids don’t belong in prison. We know from the data that when children are incarcerated they usually become repeat offenders,” said Governor John Hickenlooper. “This data-driven review will help us provide youths the best chance to successfully transition to a crime-free, productive adulthood.”
Diversion Program Would Help Keep Mentally Ill Out of Jail
Nonviolent offenders with mental illness could be diverted away from New Jersey’s mainstream criminal justice system and into a rehabilitation program designed to provide treatment for their psychiatric disorder, under an initiative envisioned by a longtime Democratic Senator that also reflects the goals of a growing national movement.
Unanimous Senate Vote Advances Criminal Justice Reform
The state Senate embraced criminal justice reform this week by unanimously passing three pieces of legislation comprising the Justice Reinvestment Initiative (JRI) II reforms.
Opinion: Data is Key to Reducing the Number of People with Mental Illnesses in Jails
Consistently collecting and analyzing this data will not only help counties create a system-wide impact, but also ensure more efficient use of taxpayer dollars.
Dauphin County, PA, Rolls out Plan to Reform Criminal Justice System for Mentally Ill
Closures of state hospitals and limited funding for treatment services has put stress on jail systems across the country, and Dauphin County is no exception. In 2016, 44 percent of the county’s mentally ill inmates returned to prison within a year of their initial booking.
Officials say now, it’s time to make a change.