Guidelines for the Successful Transition of People with Behavioral Health Disorders from Jail and Prison
Developed by the Substance Abuse and Mental health Services Administration's (SAMHSA) GAINS Center for Behavioral Health and Justice Transformation in collaboration with the Council of State Governments Justice Center and the Bureau of Justice Assistance, the guidelines promote the criminal justice partnerships that are necessary to develop successful approaches for identifying individuals in need of services, determining what services those individuals need, and addressing these needs during transition from incarceration to community-based treatment and supervision.
Written for criminal justice and behavioral health administrators and practitioners, the guidelines incorporate the principles outlined in Adults with Behavioral Health Needs under Correctional Supervision: A Shared Framework for Reducing Recidivism and Promoting Recovery; A Best Practice Approach to Community Reentry from Jail for Inmates with Co-occurring Disorders: The APIC Model; and evidence-based practices and programs (many of which can be found in the What Works in Reentry Clearinghouse).
To download a PDF of the summary of the guidelines, click here.
Corrections leaders balance the complex priorities of maintaining public safety, operating secure facilities, providing needed care and services…
Read MoreA bipartisan group of 33 members of Congress, lawmakers, led by Congresswomen Carol Miller (R-WV) and Lucy McBath…
Read MoreAlabama is taking action to achieve its Reentry 2030 goals and positioning itself as a leader in reentry.
Read More
Apply Now for Resident Analyst Program to Increase Data Analysis Capacity at Departments of Corrections
Corrections leaders balance the complex priorities of maintaining public safety, operating secure facilities, providing needed care and services to the incarcerated population, and coordinating with other agencies.
Read More
Bipartisan Group of 33 Lawmakers Promote Continued Funding for the Justice Reinvestment Initiative
A bipartisan group of 33 members of Congress, lawmakers, led by Congresswomen Carol Miller (R-WV) and Lucy McBath (D-GA), wrote a letter calling for continued funding for the Justice Reinvestment Initiative (JRI) in the Fiscal Year 2026 Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies Appropriations bill.
Read More
New Alabama Employment Law Advances Reentry 2030 Goals
Alabama is taking action to achieve its Reentry 2030 goals and positioning itself as a leader in reentry.
Read More
President’s FY26 Budget Maintains Funding for Key Justice and Behavioral Health Programs Amid Proposed Structural Changes
On May 30, 2025, the White House released the budget request for Fiscal Year (FY) 2026.
Read More
Developing a Common Definition for Community Responder Programs
This May, the state of Washington passed legislation supporting the expansion of alternative response teams (sometimes called community responders) as a public safety service.
Read More
Finding Solutions to Complex Criminal Justice Issues: Q&A with New CSG Justice Center Advisory Board Member Justice Briana Zamora
The CSG Justice Center Advisory Board establishes the policy and project priorities of the organization. The board features a cross-section of leaders who shape criminal justice policy in various parts of the country.
Read More