Financially Sustaining Behavioral Health-Criminal Justice Programs
Financially Sustaining Behavioral Health-Criminal Justice Programs
For jurisdictions implementing behavioral health-criminal justice programs to help minimize justice involvement among people with mental illnesses and substance use disorders, the ongoing costs can present challenges to long-term operation. This brief outlines key strategies and tips to financially sustaining such programs so that they are built for longevity. Photo by Anna Earl on Unsplash.
Demetrius Thomas | February 2021 | The Council of State Governments Justice Center
Project Credits
Writing: Demetrius Thomas, CSG Justice Center
Research: Demetrius Thomas, CSG Justice Center
Editing: Darby Baham, Emily Morgan, CSG Justice Center
Design: Michael Bierman
Public Affairs: Ruvi Lopez, CSG Justice Center
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Former Deputy Program Director, Behavioral Health
Demetrius
Thomas
oversaw
training
and
technical
assistance
for
the
Justice
and
Mental
Health
Collaboration
Program.
Prior
to
joining
the
CSG
Justice
Center,
he
worked
at
the
New
York
City
Department
of
Health
and
Mental
Hygiene
developing
and
managing
programs
aimed
...
at
reducing
criminal
justice
involvement
among
people
with
mental
or
behavioral
health
needs.
There,
he
led
the
agency’s
work
in
establishing
New
York
City’s
first-ever
diversion
centers
and
co-response
teams.
He
has
advocated,
litigated,
and
legislated
on
a
range
of
issues
at
the
intersection
of
criminal
justice
and
public
health.
Demetrius
earned
a
BA
with
a
dual
concentration
in
international
and
U.S.
politics
from
Columbia
University
and
a
JD
from
the
University
of
the
District
of
Columbia
David
A.
Clarke
School
of
Law.
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