Mental Health Courts: A Guide to Research-Informed Policy and Practice
This guide from the Council of State Governments Justice Center, funded by the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation, reviews the design and function of mental health courts, outcomes of mental health court participation, and questions and implications for policy and practice. The guide is intended to assist policymakers and practitioners in assessing the utility of mental health courts; after briefly describing who participates in the courts and how they function the guide reviews research findings that address the extent to which mental health courts have been found to achieve their stated goals. Because mental health courts were relatively new at the time of publication many unanswered questions remained as to how they worked, for whom, and under what circumstances; these outstanding research questions are highlighted in the final portion of the guide.
The Council of State Governments (CSG) Justice Center and the American Psychiatric Association Foundation have partnered to highlight…
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With unanimous consent, the U.S. Senate passed the bipartisan Justice and Mental Health Collaboration Reauthorization Act of 2022…
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On December 29, 2022, President Joe Biden signed a $1.7 trillion omnibus spending package for Fiscal Year 2023.…
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From Treatment Courts to the Supreme Court: Q&A with Three State Supreme Court Justices
The Council of State Governments (CSG) Justice Center and the American Psychiatric Association Foundation have partnered to highlight leaders working to address mental health needs among people in the criminal justice system through innovative practices and programs. This feature is the fourth in a series under the Judges and Psychiatrists Leadership Initiative.
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Congress Approves the Justice and Mental Health Collaboration Reauthorization Act
With unanimous consent, the U.S. Senate passed the bipartisan Justice and Mental Health Collaboration Reauthorization Act of 2022 yesterday, officially approving the legislation sponsored by Senators John Cornyn (R-TX) and Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) and Representatives Bobby Scott (D-VA), Steve Chabot (R-OH), Sheila Jackson Lee (D-TX), and Tom Emmer (R-MN). The bill will expand and improve upon the success of the Mentally Ill Offender Treatment and Crime Reduction Act (MIOTCRA) to give the country’s criminal justice and mental health systems the tools they need to serve some of their most vulnerable individuals. It will also provide the resources to help communities divert people from the criminal justice system when appropriate.
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President Biden Signs Spending Bill Funding Key Criminal Justice Programs
On December 29, 2022, President Joe Biden signed a $1.7 trillion omnibus spending package for Fiscal Year 2023. Among other administration priorities, the omnibus spending bill funds various state and local justice system grant programs within the U.S. Department of Justice.
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