Incorporating Mental Health/Substance Use Programming and Criminogenic Risk Models in Mental Health Courts

This presentation was delivered at the 2013 JMHCP National Training and Technical Assistance Event. By focusing on individuals with moderate to high criminogenic risk levels and serious behavioral health needs, mental health courts can position themselves to affect the greatest reduction in recidivism and target scarce behavioral health resources to those who need them most. This session explored the importance of assessing for and responding to both the behavioral health needs and criminogenic risk factors of program participants. Speakers provided an overview of risk-need-responsivity principles and how they may be used to refine a mental health court program’s target population and coordination of treatment and supervision.

Eric Olson, Court Coordinator, Bonneville County Mental Health Court (ID) 

Jessica Myers, Program Associate, Council of State Governments