Michael P. Boggs, a Georgia Supreme Court justice, has been appointed chair of The Council of State Governments Justice Center’s Advisory Board.
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WATCH: Opioid Addiction Screening and Assessment for People in the Criminal Justice System
This webinar focusses on best practices for screening and assessment of people in the criminal justice system who have opioid addictions. -
Collaborative Comprehensive Case Plans
This webpage provides tools and resources to assist in developing and implementing collaborative case plans, including the "Developing Collaborative Comprehensive Case Plans" webinar, which offers tips on how to get the most out the webpage. -
Learning Communities: Interface Process Measures
Over the course of four discussions, CSG Justice Center staff and Dr. Taxman describe the shared principles and process measures that can help coordinate service delivery between the criminal justice and behavioral health systems.
WATCH: Opioid Addiction Screening and Assessment for People in the Criminal Justice System
This webinar focusses on best practices for screening and assessment of people in the criminal justice system who have opioid addictions.
The majority of people in prison and jail have a substance use disorder. Despite the promise demonstrated by some treatment programs for people who are incarcerated, just a fraction of the people who need services for substance abuse receive it. Connecting people incarcerated to treatment programs proven to be effective, prioritizing resources for those nearing release, and encouraging community-based aftercare will ensure better outcomes for people released from prisons and jails, and the communities to which they return.
Substance Abuse FAQs
Providing answers on relevant topics concerning Mental Health, Health and Substance Abuse topics.
Recent Posts
A Message from the Director: Highlights from 2018
I arrived at the CSG Justice Center aware that the field of criminal justice has changed dramatically since our inception in 2007, presenting our organization and others with new challenges and exciting opportunities. As we entered our second decade, I felt that we first needed to be sure we understand who we are, what we stand for, and how we fit into this growing field.
WATCH: North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum Joins Face to Face Initiative to Highlight Substance Addiction Treatment Needs in Criminal Justice System
Gov. Doug Burgum became the latest governor to join the Face to Face initiative, a national call to action encouraging policymakers to personally engage with the people who are closest to the correctional system.
Reentry Essentials: Prioritizing Treatment for Substance Addictions
A large proportion of people in the criminal justice system have substance addictions. While there is an overwhelming need to provide effective treatment, challenges exist in quantifying the extent of that need, providing appropriate treatment programming, and taking a strategic approach across systems.
The Guidance Center Releases Free Roll Call Mental Health Training Series for Police Departments Across the Country
A new series of free web-based training modules that provide officers with effective tools for readily recognizing signs of mental illness and interacting with people who may be in crisis has been produced through a partnership between The Guidance Center (a nonprofit child and family mental health service provider) and the Los Angeles Police Department, the Long Beach Police Department, and the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department.
New Web Tool Provides Look at Often-Overlooked Legal, Regulatory Restrictions Against People who have Criminal Convictions
The new National Inventory of Collateral Consequences of Conviction resource compiles thousands of state and federal statutes into a searchable database, making it easier to identify these obscure regulations that can be triggered by a particular conviction.
Announcements
American Probation and Parole Association 44th Annual Training Institute
The theme for this summer’s training institute is Passion, Courage, and Endurance: Transforming Community Corrections. It will offer a number of educational workshops and trainings, ranging from topics in behavioral health, community supervision, pretrial supervision, juvenile justice, reentry, workplace safety, and more.
![[Apply Now] Tribal Justice Coordinated Tribal Assistance (CTAS) Training and Technical Assistance Program](https://csgjusticecenter.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/Screenshot-2018-04-20-14.27.13-136x130.png)
[Apply Now] Tribal Justice Coordinated Tribal Assistance (CTAS) Training and Technical Assistance Program
The program, funded by the U.S. Department of Justice’s Bureau of Justice Assistance, provides funding to improve tribal jurisdictions’ capacities to respond to violent crime; reduce and control crime associated with substance addictions; and enhance tribal justice systems.
![[Register for Webinar] Meeting the Needs of Individuals with Substance Use Disorders: Strategies for Reentry from Jail](https://csgjusticecenter.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/Screenshot-2016-03-21-10.14.14.png)
[Register for Webinar] Meeting the Needs of Individuals with Substance Use Disorders: Strategies for Reentry from Jail
This webinar will highlight strategies counties can use to help individuals successfully return to their communities, including how to develop a community-based treatment infrastructure and create a comprehensive reentry treatment plan.
Forum on Criminal Justice: Moving Criminal Justice Forward through Research, Policy, and Practice
The International Community Corrections Association and the National Criminal Justice Association will host a conference that showcases programs, research, and policies aimed at helping justice practitioners, researchers, and decision makers move the criminal justice system forward.
Webinars
2018 Second Chance Act Orientation for Reentry for Adults with Co-Occurring Substance Abuse and Mental Illness Grant Program
In this webinar, representatives from the NRRC, along with staff from BJA, provide an overview of the Second Chance Act’s Reentry for Adults with Co-Occurring Substance Abuse and Mental Illness (CSAMI) grant program and explain the training and technical assistance opportunities that are available to grantees, including the Planning & Implementation Guide, and other resources available to grantees.
Best Practices for Successful Reentry for People with an Opioid Addiction
This webinar includes information on planning and coordination, behavioral health treatment, cognitive interventions, and community supervision practices as well as community resources such as housing and recovery support services.
Opioid Addiction Screening and Assessment for People in the Criminal Justice System
This webinar focusses on best practices for screening and assessment of people in the criminal justice system who have opioid addictions.
Understanding Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities in People Involved with the Criminal Justice System
In this webinar, Leigh Ann Davis, director of the National Center on Criminal Justice & Disability, discusses differences and similarities between various kinds of behavioral health diagnoses and I/DD, how to identify someone with I/DD, and tips for to work more effectively with people with I/DD in correctional settings.
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 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.
Addressing the Needs of Veterans in the Criminal Justice System
This webinar provides an overview of national estimates of incarcerated veterans; explains components of the Veterans Health Administration’s veterans justice programs; expands awareness of the needs of veterans in the justice system; and discusses new developments in the Veterans Administration and community interventions to provide services to veterans in the justice system.
Best Practices in Screening and Assessment for People with Co-Occurring Substance Use and Mental Health Disorders in the Criminal Justice System
This webinar features Roger Peters, PhD, a licensed clinical psychologist and professor in the Department of Mental Health Law and Policy at the Louis de la Parte Florida Mental Health Institute, University of South Florida. The webinar discusses the prevalence of co-occurring substance use and mental health disorders among people involved in the criminal justice system, as well as effective screening and assessment instruments to use with this population.
Practical Considerations Related to Release and Sentencing for Defendants Who Have Behavioral Health Needs
During this webinar, judges and other court personnel learn about the tips for recognizing indications of a mental illness and/or substance use disorder in the courtroom, the process for treatment recommendation and referral for defendants with behavioral health needs, and how to collaborate with behavioral health care providers in their communities
2017 JMHCP Category 3 Implementation & Expansion Grantee Orientation
In this webinar, CSG Justice Center staff explain the training and technical assistance opportunities and resources available to FY17 JMHCP Category 3 Implementation & Expansion grantees.
Publications
Prosecutors and Frequent Utilizers: How Can Prosecutors Better Address the Needs of People Who Frequently Interact with the Criminal Justice and Other Social Systems?
This publication from the Institute for Innovation in Prosecution outlines how prosecutors can better serve the needs of those who frequently interact with the criminal justice and other social systems by implementing collaborative and community-centered solutions.
The Council of Accountability Court Judges: Processes and Outcomes
This report highlights the role that accountability courts—such as drug, mental health, veterans treatment, and other courts—play in reducing recidivism in Georgia.
Principles of Community-Based Behavioral Health Services for Criminal Justice Involved Individuals
This guide is intended to assist community-based behavioral health providers in their clinical and case management practice when working with people with mental illnesses and substance addictions who are currently involved with or have a history of involvement in the adult criminal justice system.
Medications for Opioid Use Disorder Save Lives
This report examines the evidence base for medications to treat opioid addictions and to identify barriers that prevent people from accessing safe, effective, medication-based treatment.
Medication-Assisted Treatment (MAT) in the Criminal Justice System: Brief Guidance to the States
In this brief, states are provided an overview of increasing the availability of evidence-based MAT, the challenges to incorporating MAT, key considerations for establishing MAT in criminal justice settings, and existing standards/guidelines.
Triage Centers as Alternatives to Jail for People in Behavioral Health Crises
This policy brief from the National League of Cities provides examples and guidance on triage centers from national partners and cities across the country.
TIP 61: Behavioral Health Services for American Indians and Alaska Natives
This publication provides behavioral health professionals with practical guidance about Native American history, historical trauma, and critical cultural perspectives in their work with American Indian and Alaska Native clients.
Opioid Use Disorder: Challenges and Opportunities in Rural Communities
This fact sheet describes challenges rural communities can face in providing access to evidence-based treatment, and strategies used by federal and state agencies to enhance treatment capacity, including how one rural community in Scott County, Indiana responded to the opioid epidemic by addressing the specific needs of its residents.
Issue Brief: Accessing Substance Use Disorder and Related Treatment Services Training for Law Enforcement
This issue brief aims to assist law enforcement with how to help offer interventions to those with substance addictions.
Using Medication Assisted Treatment to Treat Opioid Use Disorder: Learning from past Experience to Guide Policy
This paper addresses some of the issues that impact the development of policies in the use of medications in opioid addiction treatment and the prevention of opioid overdose, including whether treating opioid addictions should be viewed as a public health intervention.
Recent headlines
How One Agency Is Decriminalizing Mental Illness, Saving Money and Bettering Lives
The County Attorney kicked in $224,290 from its pre-trial diversion funds saying that, “Reach Out is the most visionary program I have seen in my 35 years working in the criminal justice system in Arizona.”
New Program to Help Recidivism Rate and Help Inmates
The Montgomery County Jail’s new program to help reduce recidivism is well underway and jail administrators like what they see so far. “We’ve seen some good results,” Jail Commander Lonnie Jones said. “The men have good attitudes and have been real anxious to be involved in this program.”
Reentry Center ‘Grads’ Share Struggles, Successes
The conference room at the Waldo County Sheriff’s was standing room only, as Volunteers of America of Northern New England Program Manager Robyn Goff took to the podium. She said the message of the day was all about hope and “supporting different pathways to recovery.”
St. Lawrence County Jail Taking New Approach to Corrections Programs
Rodney Votra, St. Lawrence County Correctional Facility Director of Inmate Programs, told the county Opioid Task Force that he no longer sees their work as “babysitting” and believes inmates gaining skills while locked up will reduce recidivism.
Hamilton County Wants to Steer Addicted, Low-Level Offenders from Jail, into ‘Life’ Plan
This summer, Hamilton County will test a program that will let police reach out to drug users and other low-level offenders and, instead of jailing them, lead them to the skills and treatment they need to improve their lives.
In This Ohio Courthouse, Addiction Treatment Is Just down the Hall
Franklin County Municipal Court judges say most misdemeanor crime cases they see can be tied to the opioid epidemic. Those judges, the City Attorney, and probation officers all hope the treatment clinic can help.
Opinion: To Stem the Opioid Epidemic, NJ Must Take Care of Prison Population
Far too often, the previously incarcerated fall off Medicaid and are unable to establish reliable access to care, much less addiction treatment specialists. Unfortunately, this is even more true in states like New Jersey, where barriers such as prior authorization requirements to prescribe medication-assisted treatment to Medicaid beneficiaries still exist.
At Opioid Task Force Meeting, Northampton Police Present One Approach to Combating Addiction
In Greenfield, about 75 percent of the officers have been trained on the Crisis Intervention Team, which is a model backed by the National Alliance on Mental Illness and intended to help police work better with the community they serve, particularly those with mental health or addiction challenges.
Lafayette Parish Receives $750,000 Mental Health Grant
The grant continues established partnerships among the Lafayette Parish Sheriff’s Office, Lafayette Police Department, Acadiana Area Human Services District, Beacon Community Connections Inc., and 232-HELP.
Stepping Up Initiative Kicks off in Champaign County
Former Ohio Supreme Court Justice Evelyn Stratton is the project director for the Ohio Stepping Up initiative. Instead of addressing mental illness in jails on a county-by-county basis, Stratton said, Ohio is tackling the problem on a statewide basis. Including Champaign County, there are currently 45 counties in Ohio participating in the initiative.