Identifies 10 key components found in successful initiatives to improve outcomes for people with mental illnesses under probation supervision. This first-of-its-kind report provides specific recommendations to probation and mental health policymakers and practitioners for effectively responding to this population's complex treatment and service needs while improving public safety and health.

Reviews the design and function of mental health courts, outcomes of mental health court participation, and questions and implications for policy and practice. This guide is intended to assist policymakers and practitioners in assessing the utility of mental health courts.

A how-to guide for advocates who want to improve the response to people with mental illnesses who are in contact with the criminal justice system. The Advocacy Handbook reflects a shared effort among NAMI (the National Alliance for the Mentally Ill), the National Mental Health Association (NMHA), the National Association of State Mental Health Program Directors (NASMHPD), the Bazelon Center for Mental Health Law, and the Criminal Justice / Mental Health Consensus Project.

Provides responses to common questions of interest to policymakers about the new study's findings.

Summarizes the key findings of a June, 2009 study of mental illnesses in jail.

Examines studies on law enforcement interactions with people with mental illnesses and translates the findings to help policymakers and practitioners develop safe and effective interventions. Supported by the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation, it reviews research on the scope and nature of the problem and on a range of law enforcement responses.

Provides background on the legislation that authorizes federal grants to jurisdictions interested in developing collaborative criminal justice/mental health responses to people with mental illnesses.

Reviews the body of recent research on community corrections supervision for people with mental illnesses and translates the findings to help officials develop effective interventions. This first-of-its-kind guide helps program planners and policymakers apply research on promising practices to improve outcomes for people with mental illnesses under community corrections supervision.

Outlines 10 elements essential to mental health court design and implementation and provides background on why each element is important and how courts can adhere to it.

Articulates 10 essential elements for specialized law enforcement-based response programs in interacting with people with mental illnesses and provides a common framework for program design and implementation that will promote positive outcomes while being sensitive to every jurisdiction's distinct needs and resources.

Outlines steps policymakers, advocates, mental health professionals, and others can take to understand and protect the rights and safety of victims of crimes committed by individuals found "not guilty by reason of insanity" or otherwise court-ordered to receive treatment in a mental health facility. The publication was supported by the Office for Victims of Crime, U.S. Department of Justice

Provides a general overview of this program model and discusses the emergence of mental health courts, their objectives and procedures, how they differ from drug courts, and a number of other key issues.

Serves as a practical handbook written for law enforcement personnel and staff at other agencies who are planning a training initiative that will support a CIT, co-response, or other type of specialized law enforcement-based response program, as well as for individuals looking to enhance an existing training initiative.

Details how the nontraditional operations of mental health courts contribute to limited victims’ rights policies and recommends practical solutions for improving them. The guide also includes examples of how some mental health and other specialty courts have successfully addressed this challenge.

Describes how leaders of the Departments of Corrections and Social and Rehabilitation Services collaborated to jointly fund a specialized transition planning program, establish partnerships between the Department of Corrections and specific community mental health service providers, improve data sharing between agencies, and develop and manage specialized mental health parole caseloads.

Describes how a number of mental illness- and substance abuse-related deaths at the jail prompted sustained media coverage and urgent calls for reform. These incidents led to the formation of a Jail Oversight Commission, the construction of a central receiving center for individuals with mental illnesses and/or substance use disorders who would normally be taken to jail or local emergency rooms, specialized law enforcement response teams, a pre-trial services program; and a post-booking treatment diversion program.

Reviews existing literature on mental illness and victimization; provides information on relevant mental health or victim service programs and resources; and recommends research, methods of developing policy and programs, and types of training and education to improve services for this population. The publication was supported by the Center for Mental Health Services, Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration and the Office for Victims of Crime, U.S. Department of Justice.

Provides an overview of the Justice Center's how-to guide for advocates who want to improve the response to people with mental illnesses who are in contact with the criminal justice system. The Advocacy Handbook reflects a shared effort among NAMI (the National Alliance for the Mentally Ill), the National Mental Health Association (NMHA), the National Association of State Mental Health Program Directors (NASMHPD), the Bazelon Center for Mental Health Law, and the Criminal Justice / Mental Health Consensus Project.

Provides a crash course for any and all criminal justice professionals who are interested in better understanding mental illness and the mental health system.